San Marino Gets First Win of The Season at El Rancho Tournament

San Marino Womens water polo team improved their record to 2-3 this past weekend at the El Rancho Tournament. The Lady Titans went 2-2, losing games to Pasadena and Mark Kepple while getting victories against La Salle and Temple City. San Marino went on to finish 11^th in the tournament.

Game Recaps

Game 1 v. Pasadena

San Marino struggled to get its offense going against a tough Pasadena defense. San Marino had trouble generating shots in the first half and would enter the half down 7-2. In the second half San Marino would get its offense going but would be shut out by the great play of the Pasadena goalkeeper.

Final SM 2 Pasadena 15

Game 2 v. La Salle

The Lady Titans would rebound from game 1 to dominate La Salle from start to finish. A balanced scoring attack lead by Saskia Raether and Cindy Hsieh ( 2 goals each), combined with stellar play of goalkeeper Carla Bezjian proved to much for the Lady Lancers. Bezjian had 10 saves in the game, 8 in the second half. Laura Wilson lead the defense with 7 steals and keeping La Salle's best player in check thought the match.

Final SM 7 La Salle 3

Game 3 v. Mark Kepple

San Marino stumbled early in game three and found themselves down 3-0 at the end of the 1^st period. The Lady Titans would rally back behind Cindy Hsieh's 6 second half steals, but the 5 point deficit at half would be too much for San Marino to overcome.

Final SM 5 MK 10

Game 4 v. Temple City

San Marino faced off against league opponent Temple City in their last match. The Lady Titans, led by Kristen Charlton's 3 first half goals, jumped out to a 6-2 half time lead. San Marino watched that lead evaporate as Temple City stormed back in the 3^rd period. The Lady Rams outscored San Marino 5-1 to tie the game 7-7 entering the 4^th period. San Marino, lead by goalkeeper Carla Bezjian's 5 4^th period saves, would regain there defense edge in the 4^th and limit TC's offensive attack. The game would not be decided until the final 14 seconds. Out of a time out, Cindy Hsieh would score the go ahead goal, her second of the period, with 4 seconds left. Bezjian blocked TC's last second shot to preserve the one point win.

SM 9 TC 8

Tournament Leaders

Goals	Assist	Steals	Saves
Charlton -8	Hsieh -7	Hsieh - 19	Bezjian - 30
Hsieh -5	Wilson-2	Wilson - 15
	Charlton -2

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Mark Barr
Head Coach Women's Aquatics
San Marino High School

Lady Titans late rally falls short in season opener

San Marino's womens water polo team opened its season against Arcadia HS. The young lady Titans (starting 3 underclassmen), jumped out to an early lead on two goals scored by senior Christa Lam. Arcadia would answer back with 2 goals of their own to tie the game at the end of the 1^st period 2-2. The 2^nd period would go much like the first. San Marino would get the first two goals. One on a counter attack by Junior Cindy Hsieh and the other on a power play goal from Senior Laura Wilson. Arcadia would storm back to tie the game at 4 all going into half.

Arcadia used a 4-0 run to break open the game at the start of the 3^rd, before the Lady Titans could get on the board with 2 goals of their own. San Marino would enter the 4^th period down by 2, but would tie it up on a goal by Wilson with 3 minutes left in the game. 2 late goals by Arcadia would put the game away as San Marino falls in their opener 12-11.

San Marino was lead by Christa Lam who had 3 goals and 3 assist. Kristin Charlton also had 3 goals. Laura Wilson and Cindy Hsieh had 2 goals each and Captain Tiffany Yeh scored 1 goal. Goalie Carla Bezjian had 5 saves in her varsity debut, including turning back a penalty shot.

In the JV game, the Lady Titans swam away with their first victory of the year. Lead by the pressure defense of Freshmen Kaylyn Chang, Jessica Chang, and Umi Nakamura, San Marino would get out to an early lead and stay there. Arcadia did not have an answer for the smothering team defense and shooting of the two Changs and Nakamura. San Marino went on to win the game 13-3.