Women’s water polo: OCC opens with first round win

WALNUT - With an inevitable Orange Coast College-Golden West finals

matchup awaiting, the Pirates’ women’s water polo team did its part to

get there with a 10-5 victory over Merced in the first round of the State

Championships Friday at Mt. San Antonio College.

OCC (28-7-1) will play at 11:45 today against Palomar and the winner

will move on to the finals on Sunday, most likely against top-seeded

Golden West. The Pirates are 0-5 against Golden West this season.

Against Merced (21-11) the Pirates held a 5-2 advantage at the half

and maintained the lead with sophomore goalie Erin Kennedy’s 11 saves.

Daylene Coberly and Neisha Hoagland scored three goals each for OCC,

while Christine McDonald and Devon Wright threw in two apiece.

STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

First Round

OCC 10, Merced 5

Merced 1 1 1 2 - 5

OCC 2 3 3 2 - 10

Merced - Belle 2, Brown 1, Fagan 1, Rose 1.

Saves - Castleton 3; Bartak 1.

OCC - Coberly 3, Hoagland 3, McDonald 2, Wright 2.

Saves - Kennedy 11; Miloslavic 1.