Mustangs top Cougars in high-scoring affair, 18-13
With all the back-and-forth action, watching Thursday’s matchup in the pool between the Gilroy High and Christopher High boys varsity water polo teams had fans twisting their heads as if taking in a heated tennis match.
When all was said and done, the Mustangs topped the Cougars in a high-scoring affair 18-13 at Gavilan College.
The Cougars played host in the Tri-County Athletic League Valley Division opener for both squads.
Senior Josh Kendrick netted a game-high eight goals, while senior Michael Shields followed close behind with six tallies of his own and also accounted for eight steals and and three assists. Kooper Knutson scored twice, and Garrett Pipkin and Joe Vanni had one goal apiece.
Eight different Cougars netted goals for coach Paul Wells’ club, including three each off the hands of Matthew Higginbotham and Brennan Laden. Armando Gutierrez scored twice, while Brennan Wilson, Zac Syth, James Benson, Gabriel Lopez and Octavio Cisneros all deposited one goal.
GHS girls: Carmel 18, GHS 6
Playing down from the first period on, the Gilroy High girls water polo team managed to pull within five of host Carmel entering the fourth before running out of steam in a 18-6 loss in the team’s Tri-County Athletic League opener Thursday.
“It was a little rough, but the girls player hard,” first-year coach Travis Gamble said. “The girls got a little tired at the end. (Carmel) was able to match our speed and they had the numbers, which made it tough.”
The Mustangs trailed 4-0 after the first period, 7-3 by halftime and 10-5 following the third.
Michelle Shields and Francesca Comin registered two goals apiece, and Abby Kienle and Corin Keller each tallied once.
“We are going to put this one behind us and build from here,” Gamble said. “It’s a game to learn upon. We know what we have to do from here.”
In the new-look TCAL, GHS and Carmel, along with San Lorenzo Valley, Salinas, San Benito, Santa Cruz Soquel and Stevenson, play in the Mountain Division.
CHS girls: Monterey 20, CHS 6
Christopher High is slotted into the Valley Division with Aptos, Alvarez, Harbor, Monterey, Notre Dame, Santa Catalina, Scotts Valley and Watsonville.
CHS, which is a first-year program (there was only a boys team in 2010) hosted Monterey to kick off Valley play at Gavilan College on Thursday, losing 20-6 to the Toreadors.
“Everyone accounted for themselves very well, being the first game,” coach Paul Wells said.
Kaitlin Ramirez and Shannon McAvoy led the way with two goals each and both Julia Graham and Amanda Sifuentes had one.
View more photos of Christopher vs Gilroy boys water polo at our photo gallery.
