Undefeated Vikings dominate 2021 West Valley Invitational

Jojo Scheer scores one of her four 4th-quarter goals against Delta
Jojo Scheer scores one of her four 4th-quarter goals against Delta

The West Valley women's water polo team improved to 8-0 with a tsunami-like roll through the 2021 West Valley Invitational at the West Valley Aquatics Center. For the second consecutive tournament, Johanna Scheer was an almost-unstoppable offensive force, scoring 18 goals in three games. West Valley's depth was on display, too, as eight different Vikings found the back of the net Friday and Saturday.

The Vikings opened with an 11-2 win over Modesto. WVC keeper Grace Smith's 13 saves highlighted the stat sheet, while Aaliyah Lax had a team-high three goals. Scheer and Kianna Melvin finished with two each. Fatima Gonzalez Garcia, Maria Higginbotham, Marija Mijuskovic and Sarah Phan had one score each.

Scheer was on fire in WVC's 15-7 win over Mt. San Antonio. She found the back of the net five times in the opening quarter, on her way to a game-high nine. Melvin scored a goal in each of the four quarters, and Higginbotham and Paige McCroskey had one goal each. Smith recorded nine saves.

Injuries forced Cuesta to forfeit Saturday's opener against the Vikings.

The much-anticipated West Valley/San Joaquin Delta matchup closed the tournament. With the Mustangs (6-1) determined to try to stop Scheer in the middle early, the pool opened up for Higginbotham. She scored from the left side three straight times, the first just 13 seconds in. Two goals from Melvin and one from Scheer gave the Vikings a 6-0 lead after one. It was 8-3 at the half and 11-5 after the third and then Scheer took over in the fourth quarter. She outscored Delta 4-2 in the quarter to boost WVC to a 16-7 win. Scheer finished with seven goals, while Higginbotham had four. Melvin and Lax had two apiece, and Mijuskovic finished with one. Smith was huge in the cage with 13 saves.