Orange Coast College

Women's water polo comes up just short

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

COSTA MESA - The young Orange Coast College women's water polo team knows that growing pains come with the job and on Wednesday, those pains were added to the normal soreness of a three-overtime contest.

Santa Ana's Jessica Sanchez lobbed a shot into the right-corner of the goal at 1:07 of the third overtime to lift the visiting Dons past the Pirates, 8-7, in Orange Empire Conference action.
Leading 6-3 after three quarter and 7-5 late in the fourth, the Pirates watched Santa Ana rally with two goals in the final 1:50 of regulation, then win it with Sanchez's lobber.
Ashley Maher led the Pirates with five goals, while Annie Le and Natasha Bustard each added a goal each.
For the Dons, Sara Van Horne led the way with three goals. Jenna Natalizio added two goals and single goals were contributed by Sanchez, Estela Jimenez and Bianca Kibby.
In goal, OCC's Marilyn Stowell (pictured above) 27 saves. For Santa Ana, Bridgette Mack stopped 12 shots, including a nice fingertip save at the end of the second overtime.
The Pirates will return to action on Friday and Saturday in the Pasadena Tournament.