The Christopher boys water polo finished off the first half of the season with a 22-9 thrashing of San Lorenzo Valley Tuesday at home.
Zach Gallardo led the Cougars with 10 goals on 12 attempts. He leads the team with 65 goals this season. Gallardo also had team-high five steals in addition to three assists. Max Deliz added six goals on eight shots, while Skyler Shimek knocked in two. Noah Vasquez, Chris Spohr, James Dignan and Logan Sutter each scored a goal in the game, too. Sutter also led the team in assists with five and had four steals.
Coach Paul Wells said he’s impressed by the breakout offensive performances of Deliz, Jesse Calderon and Spohr. But the biggest surprise, he said, has been Sutter’s play in the water.
“He is a very skillful player in close to the net (situations),” Wells said of Sutter. “Being left handed is a huge team advantage because it balances out the right handed players on the other side of the pool. All 12 field players have contributed goals, outscoring opponents 169-105.”
And the defense has been just as good. Sophomore goalie Cyrus Smith has shined in his rookie year, coming up key stops complemented by quick, accurate passes.
The Cougars took fourth in last weekend’s Homestead Tournament. They topped Monterey 11-5 in the Sept. 25 opener, but dropped a hard-fought game to Pioneer, 20-17, on Sept. 26.
“The Pioneer game was, without doubt, the best game we have played this year,” Wells said. “They are a solid team with some standout players and we have played them very well even with half the team missing.”
GIRLS GOLF
Mustangs notch first ‘W’ of season
Each week, the Gilroy girls golf team has chipping away, getting closer and closer to a victory. And on Monday, the Mustangs finally got one.
Gilroy topped Monte Vista Christian 339-344, despite being down a player and having to take an automatic 81 score. Lizette Alcantar, who carded a 53 to earn medalist honors, led the team.
“Every time she plays (she) always brings her A-game, which is why I had no problem putting in a group against two opponents—she did not let us down,” Mustangs coach Daniel Valdez said via email.
Nicole Dan gave a strong performance and scored a 64 for the Mustangs. She had a “great drive” on Hole 5 which game up just short of the green, but finished with a bogey. The hole was the turning point for Dan in the match, Valdez said.
Alessandra Esposito scored a 70 and had a long putt on Hole 8 to card a bogey. Newcomer Judith Diaz was right on her teammates’ heels with a 71.
The Mustangs will host Watsonville at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Gavilan Golf Course.
VOLLEYBALL
Cougars win third straight
Christopher won its third straight game, sweeping Monterey 3-0 Tuesday at home. The Cougars won 25-21, 25-19, 25-16.
Katelyn Viray led the team with 19 kills in addition to 15 digs and an ace. Samantha Dolan added 10 kills, seven digs and two aces.
Jackie Pantane served up a team-high three aces for the Cougars and had 20 digs. Christa Arroyo brought it all together with 37 assists.
Christopher (13-4 overall, 3-0 in league) will next play at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 6 at Monte Vista Christian.
Seaside tops Gilroy
The Mustangs’ skid continued as they dropped their third straight game 3-1 to Seaside at home Tuesday.
Gilroy lost 21-25, 25-23, 17-25, 17-25 but were led by strong serving performances from Kiana Lester and Alexis Conlon. Lester notched three aces straight aces in the game.
Margo and Evelyn Clonts combined for six blocks in the game.
The Mustangs (1-3 overall, 0-3 in league) will play at 6:30 p.m. tonight at Pajaro Valley.
GIRLS TENNIS
Cougars sweep PV
Christopher made quick work against Parajo Valley Tuesday, winning 7-0 at home.
The Eagles couldn’t field a full team and had to forfeit the No. 3 and No. 4 singles matches as well as the No. 3 doubles.
The Cougars dominated the matches they did play. No. 1 singles player Sydney Tran won 6-0, 6-1 and Kaitlyn Lombardo won 6-0, 6-0.
The No. 1 doubles team of Niet Khay and Malia Campos won their match 6-1, 6-0. Kelly Nantais and Samantha Ramirez, the No. 2 team, 6-3, 6-1.
The Cougars (2-2) will play San Benito at 4 p.m. today at Ridgemark Tennis Club.
North Salinas shuts down Gilroy
The Mustangs had a rough time with North Salinas Tuesday, falling 6-1.
Things weren’t all bad though as Gilroy’s No. 1 doubles team of Nicole Holder and Savanna Brandon pulled out a 7-6, 6-1 win to remain undefeated through the team’s first three league matches.
“(That is) a feat not many can boast about,” coach Ray Blagof said via email. “(I am) very proud of all our players. Today’s loss is only a stepping stone to our bright days yet to come.”
Gilroy will kick off a five-game homestand when it hosts Monte Vista Christian at 4 p.m. today.
Find when and where your favorite teams are playing this week:
CHRISTOPHER
10.1—Field hockey at Carmel, 3:30 p.m.; Tennis at San Benito, 4 p.m.
10.2—Football vs. Palma, league opener, 7:30 p.m.
GILROY
10.1—Tennis vs. Monte Vista Christian, 4 p.m.; Girls water polo at Carmel, 4 p.m.; Volleyball at Pajaro Valley, 6:30 p.m.
10.2—Field hockey at Saratoga, 7 p.m.
10.3—Football vs. Watsonville, 2 p.m. at Christopher High
