By John M. Sherrard
(WALNUT) The Mt. San Antonio College women's water polo team remained undefeated in the South Coast Conference with a 15-8 victory over visiting East Los Angeles College Wednesday afternoon.
The Mounties will host the 20th Annual Tournament beginning Friday and Saturday.
Fifteen teams will play a four-team format at Citrus and Mt. SAC
Mt. SAC plays Fullerton and Santa Barbara Friday and Grossmont and Saddleback on Saturday.
With the win, the Mountie women improved to 5-2 overall and 3-0 in conference and were led by the freshmen scoring duo of Kayla De Herrera (Bonita HS) and Clare Rowland (St. Lucy's HS) with five and three goals respectively. Rowland had a game-high six assists.
However, ELAC was the one to get the early 1-0 lead, before Rowland tied the game, 1-1, at 5:58 of the period.
Mt. SAC sophomore captain Hannah "Moose" Krolik tied the game at 2-2 seconds later on a pass from sophomore attacker Beth Keane (Corona HS).
"Outside the seven, off the foul," said Krolik of her goal.
"If you have a low shot clock and don't want to back on defense, go for the goal."
The Mounties did trail ELAC 4-3 after the opening period, but outscored the Huskies (0-9, 0-3) ,4-2, in the second period on goals by De Herrera (2 goals), freshman defender Alexis Aguirre (Rowland HS) and Keane, who had two goals in the game.
"That (the slow start) was concerning and we don't like to start that slow," Mt. SAC coach Chris Jackson said.
"It was nice that they got some momentum going in the third quarter."
That they did as De Herrera and Rowland scored three and two goals respectively and the Mounties, scoring seven in the quarter, took a commanding 14-6 lead.
The Mountie defense held the Huskies scoreless in the quarter and only two goals in the fourth.
"A lot of the girls stepped it up and we came back and doubled up our score," Keane said.
"They (De Herrera and Rowland) get along really well outside the pool and that really shows in the pool. They are inseparable outside of the pool and inside the pool it's a match made in heaven."
Mt. SAC freshman defender Ridlee Dunlap (Esperanza HS) also had two goals.
Mt. SAC will continue with conference action next Wednesday at Pasadena City College at 3:00 pm.