Historically speaking, the 2009-2010 season for the Gilroy High
varsity girls water polo team was its best to date.
Historically speaking, the 2009-2010 season for the Gilroy High varsity girls water polo team was its best to date.
The Mustangs narrowly missed out on a league title, losing 5-4 in the Tri-County Athletic League Tournament championship game to Salinas. But the second-place league finish qualified the Mustangs for the Central Coast Section playoffs for the first time in program history.
However, a 14-8 loss to an experienced Gunn High School in the first round of the playoffs ended the storied season. But fortunately for head coach Sean LaGuardia, there is another chapter.
“They are all excited for the season,” LaGuardia said Wednesday. “We have spent three years together. And that in itself is special to see this team come from where it was.”
The Mustangs return all but one player from their playoff team, including the top-four goal producers Chelsea Hill (57), Michelle Shields (37), Nicole Nelsen (22) and Lauren Rhodes (20). Also back for another season in the cage is goalie Devan Lauber, who racked up 165 saves en route to a first-team all-TCAL selection.
“We have been able to pick up where we left off last year, especially with all this experience,” LaGuardia said.
The Mustangs were able to showcase their offensive prowess for the first time Wednesday against Monterey. And they wasted little time making things happen.
All nine Mustangs scored at least one goal in a 22-6 romp that not only demonstrated the team’s ability to score from anywhere in the pool but also another strength.
“We are fast,” LaGuardia simply stated. “We may not be the fastest team in the league, but we’re fast.”
Shields scored six times, Nelsen and Rhodes tallied four each and Hill had three, as the Mustangs jumped out to an 12-3 halftime advantage and didn’t let off the gas pedal. Leah Ailes with her two goals, and Francesca Comin, Angiolina Vanni and Heather O’Connor with one each, joined the scoring barrage.
“We can’t rely on just one player,” LaGuardia said. “It’s going to take a lot of girls stepping up, shooting on the outside and moving around. We still have a lot to work on but this was a good starting point.”
Even with the scoring onslaught, LaGuardia was more pleased with how the girls played defense, adding that how they defend the cage is, first-and-foremost, a huge portion of the team’s equation for success.
“Defense is going to be key,” he said. “Last year we played great defense and that was what kept us in a lot of the games in the TCAL championships.”
The Mustangs take on nonleague opponent Everett Alvarez on Monday at home before diving into league play against Carmel on Thursday. Both contests are at home and slated for 3:30 p.m. starts.
