The Long Beach City College women’s water polo team kept its perfect record intact after an easy 21-2 South Coast Conference win over visiting Rio Hondo College on Wednesday at LBCC.
The win improved the Vikings to 11-0 overall and 3-0 in the SCC, while Rio Hondo dropped to 1-8 and 0-3 in conference play.
Long Beach stormed out to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter after two goals each from sophomore Kimmy Morrison and freshman Melissa Mansana. The Vikings also got single goals from sophomores Annie Savoji, Adrienne Taylor, and freshman Alexandria Blank.
Rio Hondo finally posted its first goal at with 2:20 left in the first by Denise Castillo before the Vikings closed out the half with seven straight goals.
Long Beach rallied off 14 unanswered goals until Rio Hondo broke that string late in the fourth quarter. The Roadrunners closed out the scoring with a goal by Sam Maldonaldo with 1:05 left in the game.
Freshmen Jesslyn Salas and Hollie Mickelson led Long Beach with four goals each. Sophomore Katie Shea and Blank added two goals.
Sophomore Chelsea Datt posted seven saves in goal for Long Beach.
The Vikings are coming off a first-place finish at last weekend’s Mt. San Antonio College tournament. On Friday (Sept. 25), LBCC picked up wins over Citrus (10-3) and Orange Coast (11-5) and on Saturday (Sept. 26) defeated Fullerton (11-7) and Palomar (12-2) to take the team title.
Long Beach returns to tournament action this weekend (Oct. 2-3) when it ravels north to compete at the Cuesta College tournament.
Reports From LBCC’s Chris Ruiz