Saratoga News

Sports

Mitty girls claim first ever CCS polo crown

By Mike Barnhart

Girls teams from Archbishop Mitty and St. Francis collided in three different athletic arenas on Nov. 18, with Central Coast Section championships on the line. The Monarchs scored an amazing hat trick, capping the fall sports season by claiming gold medals in field hockey, volleyball and water polo.

All championships are special to players and coaches of triumphant teams, but Mitty's water polo crown was especially sweet, as it was the school's first in the sport. In fact, only the 2001 girls squad had reached the championship round, only to lose 6-3 to St. Francis.

But, unlike the 2001 team, coach Scott Blake's squad would not be denied this season. The Monarchs built a 2-0 lead in the first quarter, added two more goals in the third and held on for a 5-2 victory. Junior Hannah Stephens, a transfer from Sacred Heart Prep, tallied two of the goals. Seniors Sara Collins and Marilee Silveria and junior Kelsea Ericksen scored the others.

Mitty was thrilled that it won in regulation play, after surviving three overtime sessions in a 5-4 semifinal victory over No. 3 Los Altos. The Monarchs trailed 3-1 at halftime, but rallied in the third period to tie 3-3. Both teams scored in the fourth, but nobody found the net in the defensive struggle until Collins' second goal of the game ended the affair in sudden-death overtime. Silveria also scored two goals in the semifinal, and Stephens added one.

It was the third straight win for Mitty, the No. 7 seed in the 12-team tourney. The Monarchs topped No. 10 Lincoln 12-1 in the first round and stunned No. 2 Leland 11-6.

After sharing second place in West Catholic Athletic League round robin play and finishing second to Sacred Heart Prep in the league playoffs, Mitty's four CCS wins gave it an overall record of 21-10.

Silveria, one of three seniors on the team, was one of a trio of Monarchs selected to the all-WCAL first team. Stephens, the team's top goal scorer during league play, and junior goalkeeper Kristen Simonds also earned first team honors. Collins and Ericksen were second team picks.

Other members of the newly crowned CCS championship team were senior Emily Thomas, juniors Delaney Keane, Jennifer Needham and Kirstie Spitzer and sophomore Kim McComas and Chelsea Sullivan.