Eastlake and Hilltop high schools captured both ends of Thursday evening’s girls water polo double-header at Southwestern College amid light rain and steamy water fog.
Eastlake improved to 6-0 in Mesa League play, 11-5 overall, after defeating Bonita Vista by a score of 7-4.
Hilltop improved to 2-3 in Mesa League play, 9-7 overall, after defeating Otay Ranch by a score of 6-4, also in wet conditions.
Eastlake remains on top of the league standings with four games remaining on its league schedule before the start of the San Diego Section playoffs. The Titans have moved up to third in the Division II power rankings behind No. 1 Falbrook (12-6) and No. 2 Grossmont (12-8).
Point Loma (9-2) is ranked fourth, followed by fifth-ranked Mar Vista (9-9). Mar Vista is 4-1 in Mesa League play to occupy second place behind Eastlake.
The Titans defeated the Mariners, 10-2, on Tuesday.
Eastlake head coach Stuart Sokil said his team has continued to build momentum over the course of the 2018-19 season.
“I thought we were only going to lose one player from last year but we lost two players,” Sokil explained. “We have been progressing throughout the season. We’ve only allowed 14 goals in six league games, so our defense is solid. Our offense needs more polishing.”
Thursday’s game, which featured a surreal setting with the weather conditions combining to produce a blowing haze over the pool, was tight until the Titans blew open the score in the fourth quarter. Eastlake opened up with a quick 2-0 advantage but the Barons (2-3 in league, 7-10 overall) countered to make the score 2-1. The Titans later nursed a 3-2 lead from much of the game thereafter before outscoring Bonita Vista 4-2 down the stretch run.
Tess Johnson led the Titans with three goals in Thursday’s contest while Sydney Parry and Jillian Walsh each scored two goals. Kailey Uribe was credited with 13 goalie saves.
Both of Walsh’s goals came on five-meter penalty shots.
Megan Slovatizki and Sylvanna Olivas each were credited with two goals for the Barons.
Hilltop trailed Otay Ranch for much of Thursday’s game before scoring the final three goals of the game to erase a 4-3 deficit. Vivien Nieto scored the game-tying goal for the Lancers while Mia Morey scored what proved to be the game-winning goal.
Hilltop, which will host Mater Dei Catholic in a league encounter on Friday, Jan. 18, recently recorded a fifth-place finish in the East County Invitational. The Lancers defeated Oceanside (6-5), Santa Fe Christian (7-6) and Ramona (6-4) while coming up short in match-ups against Santana (10-2) and Monte Vista (9-7).
Santana (7-14) is currently eighth in the section’s Division II power rankings while Monte Vista (10-5) is currently the section’s top-ranked Division III team.
“My team has its days, some days we have it and some days we fall short, but overall we’re getting better,” veteran Hilltop coach Ernie Medina said.
Top players include Ruby Chavez and Jordan Carpadakis . The latter earned honors as the team MVP at the East County Invitational.
Eastlake will host Hilltop in a league match-up next Tuesday, Jan. 22, at 7 p.m. at the Southwestern College pool.
Photo Gallery by Phillip Brents
