November 5, 2024

OC Sports Zone: Community First

PHOTOS: Defending PCL champion Northwood defeats Portola 13-2 in opener

Northwood sophomore Ella-Blue Wilmot gets ready to take a shot Thursday. (Photos courtesy Northwood water polo, Michael An)

Northwood High’s girls water polo team, the defending Pacific Coast League champion, opened its season Thursday with a 13-2 victory over Portola in the league opener for both teams at Portola.

Returning varsity players sophomore Ella-Blue Wilmot, junior Lauren Nguyen and junior Kaitlyn Kong led the way against Portola.

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Wilmot and Kong both had a team high four goals each and Nguyen added three goals.

Varsity newcomers junior Danielle Ela and junior Bronwyn Almy each scored their first varsity goals.

All-CIF returning goalie junior Sanjana Venkatesh had an impressive opener recording 13 saves and three assists.

“Our girls came in and played with confidence from the very beginning,” said Coach Kyle Kim-E. “We have always had a younger varsity team and now that everyone, for the most part, is an upperclassmen, it’s cool from a coaching standpoint to see the growth that these girls have had.

“Normally for our first game, we’re extremely nervous and tend to overthink a lot of little things here and there. But, the girls came out and played a great offensive and defensive game the entire time. Naturally, there are some things to work on but considering this was our first game together in literally 13 months, it was a perfect start.”

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