Cypress High’s girls water polo team held off Kennedy, 8-3, to remain undefeated in Empire League play with one game remaining.
The Centurions led just 5-3 heading into the fourth quarter, but added three goals in the final period to seal the win. Sarah Smith and Lindsey Mizrahi each had three goals to lead the Centurions. Melissa Bell and Jinny Ryunyoung Chang each added a goal.
Ryunyoung Chang scored her goal at the 5:48 mark of the fourth quarter to push the lead to 6-3. Mizrahi found her from the right side with a cross-tank pass that set Ryunyoung Chang up with a wide open shot on goal. About 30 seconds later, Mizrahi fired a shot from about 3 meters in front of the net to push the lead to 7-3.
Smith added the final goal around the 4:18 mark with a shot from 10 meters that deflected off a Kennedy defenders hand, but still found the corner of the goal. Smith’s first goal came at the 3:33 mark of the first quarter and broke the school record for goals in a season, with 91. Earlier this season she eclipsed the school record for career goals which is now 221.
While Smith has been the biggest threat for the Centurions this year, she has received plenty of assistance from teammates this year. Seniors Mizrahi and Melissa Bell have become versatile players, playing both in the two-meter slot and the perimeter.
On defense, sophomore Keiana Kozai has become a solid two-meter defender which has freed up Smith to focus more on perimeter defense. Goal keeper Courtney Izoura has shored up the back line defense.
“We have a really good cast around [Smith],” Coach Ryan Poole said.
Last year, the Centurions lost in the quarterfinals of the CIF-SS Division 6 playoffs, to eventual champion Pasadena Poly, but coaches have strong optimism that this year’s team has a chance to make a good run.
Cypress has talent, but its team chemistry might be its best asset. The Centurions close out the regular season with a game at Western High on Thursday, at 3:15 p.m.
Kennedy had two goals and three steals from Katherine Garcia. Kiara Anguiano had a goal, assist and four steals. Karen Anguiano had five steals.