Crescenta Valley girls’ water polo clinches share of Pacific League title

BURBANK — Alexandra Garas seemed pretty comfortable taking part in her first match in the Pacific League Tournament on Tuesday.

Garas enjoyed one of her best contests of the season to put the Crescenta Valley High girls’ water polo team in position to win another league title.

Garas scored a match-best nine goals to power top-seeded Crescenta Valley to a 23-6 win against fourth-seeded Glendale at Burbank High and gain a split of the league crown.

“You just go out there and try to stay focused and communicate well,” said Garas, a freshman. “It turned out to be an enjoyable experience, but we can still continue to get better.”

Crescenta Valley (24-4, 7-0 in league) will meet second-seeded Burroughs (14-8m 5-1) in the championship match at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the same venue. Glendale (11-15, 3-4) will take on third-seeded Arcadia (10-9, 4-3) in the tournament’s third-place match at 4:30 Thursday

Crescenta Valley, which won the league title last season, also got seven goals from Audrey Taylor, the reigning All-Area Girls’ Water Polo Player of the Year.

Garas had five first-half goals and Taylor added four to give the Falcons a 12-2 halftime advantage.

“I thought we played well most of the time, but we’re still looking to put it all together for four quarters,” Crescenta Valley Coach Ricky Mulcahey said. “These are our last two games before the CIF playoffs start and you try to get better going into the playoffs.

“We want to continue the legacy of the program and it’s amazing to watch many of our players. We still have work to do against Burroughs.”

Garas scored her third goal to give Crescenta Valley an 8-1 lead with 4:40 remaining in the second quarter. The UC Davis-bound Taylor recorded her third tally with 3:13 left in the first half to make it 11-2.

The Falcons also received two goals apiece from Esma Dollaku and Katy Sayre and one each from Rachel Ward, Brynn Fernandez and Porche Double.

Glendale got two goals each from Liliya Ter-Barsegyan and Lori Berberian. The Nitros also got a goal apiece from Amanda Briones and Stephanie Carrilo.

Second-year Glendale Coach Casey Sripramong said the Nitros will look to regroup against Arcadia.

“Arcadia has a very strong team,” Sripramong said. “Speed will be important and we have to use our strengths on defense.

“We’d like to get third [going into the playoffs].”