
Pirates hang on for 9-8 win over Hornets
COSTA MESA -- It was a back-and-forth contest all afternoon and in the end, the victory went to the Orange Coast College women's water polo team as they topped visiting Fullerton, 9-8, on Wednesday at the OCC Aquatics Pavilion.
Emma Willis had three goals and an assist for OCC (12-9, 4-1 in the Orange Empire Conference) while Faye Garcia added two goals and an assists. Solo goals were contributed by Rhoslyn Contreras, Lyric Roddenberry, Finley Munchoff and Hayden Clark.
Coast carried a 6-3 lead on the Hornets (6-15, 1-4) early in the third quarter before Fullerton responded with four goals in a row to take a 7-6 advantage into the fourth.
The Pirates took advantage of a 6-on-5 opportunity and Willis found the back of the net to tie the game at 7 with six minutes remaining.
Willis was in the center of the action again two minutes later and was awarded a 5-meter penalty shot, which she converted to put the Pirates in front, 8-7.
Just over two minutes later, Willis' third of the afternoon on another 6-on-5 advantage put OCC in front 9-7 with 1:54 left to play.
Fullerton scored on its next possession to make it 9-8 and had possession in the final 8 eight seconds, but their final shot was stopped at the goal line by OCC's Emily Jones, who finished with six saves.
Among Jones' key stops included a nice lob-save off a Hornet attempt right in front of the goal and a stretched-out stop late in the fourth quarter to preserve OCC's lead.
The Pirates will return to action on Saturday at the Long Beach Mini Tournament.