The varsity girls water polo team (3-3) fell 6-11 against La Jolla High School Vikings (5-0) in a non-league contest at Coggan Pool on Wednesday, fighting through all four quarters.
For a team that had 3 substitutes because of injuries and illnesses, the game was a testament to developing depth as a team. During the game, the Falcons were neck and neck with the higher-ranked Vikings until La Jolla’s bench strength and depth created a separation in the last quarter.
“We really pushed through this game,” said junior captain Ella Gataric (11). “Against La Jolla at Coggan, we fought hard for three quarters and only gave up a small lead late. With all the injuries and illnesses, we had few subs, so seeing players come off the bench, step into new roles and play big minutes says a lot about our depth.”
This reliance on a limited roster required strategic approaches to conserve energy and manage the game’s pace.
“La Jolla High School was a difficult match because of the depth they carried,” Jazmyn Modir (11), a player on the varsity girls water polo team, said. “Our bench lacked people, which made our team bring all our energy and strength, knowing we would not have much rest.”
The Falcons held mental fortitude, focusing more on strategy instead of outcome.
“As a team, we had to disregard the score whether our goal went in or not, have a positive attitude and keep on putting in effort,” varsity girls water polo head coach Alex Williams said. “[We] had very good resilience after something bad happened. They are capable of overcoming discomfort and fear. It challenged the captains a lot this week. Nobody liked it, and the captains did the dirty work behind the scenes, playing their best. This is what I am most proud of.”
Despite the final score, players found encouragement and motivation in their performance.
“We were not expecting a pretty even game against La Jolla because they are extremely well-ranked,” Modir said.
These efforts and setbacks gave the team a blueprint for the league games that lie ahead.
“My message to the team is just how proud I am of the way we performed,” Gataric said. “Now it is about getting back to work, grinding in practice and carrying this effort forward as we push to win our league and earn a strong CIF ranking.”
