The Olympian High School girls water polo team captured two games this week to improve to 6-0 in South Bay League play in pursuit of this year’s league championship title.
The Lady Eagles turned back a stiff challenge from the Chula Vista Lady Spartans in Wednesday’s high profile encounter at the Park Way pool by recording a 6-4 victory. Olympian shut out host Montgomery, 13-0, in a game played Friday afternoon.
The two wins raised the Lady Eagles’ record to 12-11 on the season.
“I must commend Chula Vista for their tough battle against us,” Olympian coach Rachael Medina said. “It was a close game but we rose to the occasion at crucial moments in the game.
“The key factors that have been helping us grow as a team are communication in the water, managing the time, and giving it our best till the final clock period has run out.”
Top defensive games, according to the Olympian coach, were turned in by junior goalie Kalinka Silva, senior Jennifer Lopez and sophomore Elizabeth Burkart, the team’s youngest starter.
Senior Sam Burden scored two crucial goals in the final 1:30 of the contest.
Senior captains Lily Burkhart and Eleni Sklavenitis also contributed to assist their team mates as leaders on the field, Medina said.
“Although we did our best all together as a team, we continue to use every member on our team’s strengths to win games,” the Lady Eagles coach said.
Olympian next plays Castle Park on Wednesday, Jan. 31, at the Park Way pool. Game time is 5 p.m.
Chula Vista dropped to 4-1 in league play while San Ysidro is 3-1 in league play. Montgomery and Southwest are both 2-4 in league play while Castle Park is 0-6.
The Lady Eagles have games against each team upcoming in the second half of the season.
“Although the road ahead of us is not going to be easy, we look forward to finish as champions and see ourselves ranked among the top seven teams in Division III CIF,” Medina said. “We hope to make it the farthest (in the playoffs) we have ever made in Olympian girls water polo history.”
Canyon Crest Academy tops the Division III standings in winning percentage with a 12-7 record, followed by Olympian and San Ysidro.
Eastlake remained unbeaten in Mesa League play following wins this week against Mar Vista (3-2 on Wednesday) and Mater Dei Catholic (9-1 on Thursday). The Lady Titans are on an 11-game winning streak.
Mesa League Standings
(Through Jan. 25)
League/Overall
Eastlake Lady Titans 6-0, 14-6
Bonita Vista Lady Barons 4-1, 13-4
Mar Vista Lady Mariners 3-2, 8-8
Otay Ranch Lady Mustangs 2-4, 6-10
Hilltop Lady Lancers 1-5, 7-14
Mater Dei Catholic Lady Crusaders 0-5, 5-10
Tuesday, Jan. 23
Hilltop 9, Otay Ranch 7
Wednesday, Jan. 24
Bonita Vista 12, Hilltop 4
Otay Ranch 10, Mater Dei Catholic 7
Eastlake 3, Mar Vista 2
Thursday, Jan. 25
Eastlake 9, Mater Dei Catholic 1
Division II San Diego Section Standings
Winning percentage: Del Norte 11-3, Bonita Vista 13-4, Santana 16-5, Eastlake 14-6, El Camino 13-7, Point Loma 12-7, Serra 10-7, Rancho Buena Vista 10-7-1, Mar Vista 8-8
