The Willow Glen Resident

Photograph by Skye Dunlap

CCS Effort: Presentation junior Shannon Grady (8) works against Lynbrook star Suzannah Johnson in the CCS semifinals. The Panthers lost 11-7 to the Vikings to settle for a third-place tie at CCS.

Panthers fall in CCS polo semi's

Bienemann pours in 15 goals in three CCS playoff games

By Dick Sparrer

Cassie Bienemann has been the scoring leader all season long for the Presentation girls' water polo team. And it was no different for the Panthers when they competed in the Central Coast Section play-offs over the past couple of weeks.

Bienemann poured in 15 goals in three games to lead all Presentation scorers. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to lead the Panthers into the CCS finals.

Presentation opened the CCS tournament with a lopsided 14-1 win over Gunn, then whipped Notre Dame Belmont 14-5.

But the Panthers lost a tough 11-7 decision to eventual CCS champion Lynbrook in the semifinals.

The loss left the Panthers 23-9 for the year and in a virtual tie for third in the section with Menlo.

Bienemann and Jamie Hinderliter fired in two goals apiece, but the Panthers lost to the Vikings in the semis. Jennifer Allen, Laura DiPalermo and Tarryn Knight also scored for Presentation in the game.

The Panthers fought the Vikings to a 1-1 tie in the first period but were outscored 6-2 in the second to trail 7-3 at the half. Presentation got one back in the third, outscoring Lynbrook 3-2, but the Vikings pulled away in the fourth for the win.

Presentation had earned its place in the semifinals with a 14-5 win over Notre Dame Belmont. Bienemann starred in the win, leading the Panthers with eight goals. Lisa Knott supported with three goals in the win and Allen, Hinderliter and Knight added a goal each.

Presentation outscored Notre Dame in every period but the fourth on the way to the victory. The Panthers led 4-1 after a period and 7-3 at the half, then blanked the Tigers 3-0 in the third to all but clinch the win.

Bienemann buried five goals to lead the Panthers to a 14-1 win over Gunn in the CCS opener for each squad. Allen and Hinderliter chipped in with three goals apiece, and DiPalermo, Hinderliter and Kristin Olsen had a goal each.

The Panthers scored four goals in each of the first three periods and held the Titans to just a single goal in the second.

Presentation had earned a place in the CCS tournament by finishing third in the Blossom Valley Athletic League.

The Panthers crushed Pioneer 17-4 before losing a tough 6-4 decision to eventual league champion Castilleja. Presentation came back to bomb Valley Christian 15-2 in the league's third-place game.

Bienemann scored five goals to lead the Panthers to win over the Warriors. Hinderliter, DiPalermo and Allen fired in three goals each against Valley, and Shannon Grady hit one.

Bienemann had popped two goals and Hinderliter and Knott hit one each, but it wasn't enough for the Panthers in the 6-4 loss to Castilleja.

The Panthers had opened the league tournament with the 17-4 win over Pioneer. Bienemann bombed seven goals to lead the Panthers to the easy win. Hinderliter, Knott and Kirstin Livak drilled two goals each in the win, and Allen, Knight, Grady and Jennifer Crabtree added a goal each.

Seniors Bienemann, Knott and Knight won all-league honors for the Panthers.

Presentation coach Brian Bolster will lose the three all-leaguers to graduation this spring, along with seniors Olsen, Leslie Buehler and goalie Gina Distaso, but the Panthers have a solid crew of returners expected back in 1998.

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