Christopher High varsity water polo players Natalie Garcia and Kaitlin Ramirez quickly navigated the pool with a give and go that concluded with a Garcia goal 13 seconds into Friday’s game against Everett Alvarez.
The fast start set the tone as the Cougars scored in a flurry to top the Eagles 17-12 in Monterey Bay League Pacific Division action.
The Cougars (3-1 league) led 13-3 at halftime. That cushion allowed head coach Jim Shuster to get all of his players time in the pool.
“I was not worried when the athletes from Everett Alvarez scored nine goals in the fourth quarter. I was more interested in giving everyone on the team a lot of playing time to build depth, confidence and spreading the wealth of playing knowledge throughout the team.” Shuster said.
The blistering start was something that Shuster said was part of the game plan, which also included spreading the offensive production. Eleven of the 13 Cougars took shots on goal, with eight different ones tallying goals.
Ramirez led all with six, while Shannon McAvoy and Garcia had three each, and Christina Mendoza (2), Ashley Irby (1), Kiana Ruybal (1) and Sabrina Seery (1) also scored.
Goalie Bella Marquez anchored the defensive end with eight saves in the first half.
The Cougars are next in the pool against crosstown foe Gilroy High at 5 p.m. on Thursday.
The CHS boys also won big, beating Alvarez 19-0 for its first league win of the year.
Eleven different Cougars accounted for the 19 goals. That barrage was led by Zachary Syth’s four scores. James Walling (3), Gabriel Lopez (2), Brennan Laden (2), Brennan Wilson (2), Kevin Costa, Gordon Papalias, Christopher McCann, Jesus Marin, Shane Beeman and Cesar Diaz added goals.
• The Gavilan College men’s soccer team blanked Yuba College 4-0 in nonconference play Friday.
Fabian Ruiz had two goals and Jorge Sanchez and Miles Mammen had one apiece as the Rams evened up their early season record at 3-3. Andy Moya assisted on two of the goals and Ruiz also had an assist.
All three of Gavilan’s victories are of the shutout variety.
The Rams host West Hills College on Tuesday, with Coast Conference underway Friday in a home tilt versus Cabrillo. Both matches are set for 4 p.m.
• Christopher High girls volleyball dropped a three-set match to Santa Catalina on Thursday.
Michelle Toves had 14 digs on defense. Alex Gerberick delivered 19 assists to Cougars hitters, who were led by nine kills from Hanna Tabron and six from Olivia Tabron.
