Girls’ Water Polo Preview: Flintridge Sacred Heart has higher expectations
Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy’s Maddy Dulcich, center, takes a shot in overtime against Alemany High School at home in La Cañada Flintridge on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015.
It took some time, but the Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy water polo team got to experience competing in the playoffs for the first time in the program’s history last season.
Under coach Carlos Ponce, the Tologs now appear poised to become regular participants in the postseason.
“We were able to open the door and get an idea of what’s it’s like to take part in a playoff match and the players we have returning haven’t forgotten,” said Ponce, whose team finished tied for fourth in the Mission League with Louisville before subsequently defeating Louisville in a play-in match. “We want to take the next steps, which are finishing higher in the league and going farther in the playoffs.
“From what I hear, our league is wide open. We’re thinking we can challenge for a league championship.”
Flintridge Sacred Heart, which fell to eventual champion Arroyo Grande in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division III playoffs, might be in line to contend for the league crown.
The Tologs return the bulk of their team. That includes senior utility Maddie Dulcich, senior hole/set Electra Williams and junior driver Emily Gray. The Tologs also figure to have some added depth.
“We will have a lot of options and that will help balance the team,” Ponce said. “This could be the most talented team I’ve coached at Sacred Heart and I think we have the pieces in place to do some very good things.”
La Cañada High School’s Heather Connolly takes a shot on goal against Crescenta Valley High School in a home game on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015.
La Cañada enters the season ranked 10th in the Division V following a third-place finish in the Rio Hondo League and a trip to the playoffs last season. La Cañada fell in the first round of the playoffs after being absent from the postseason the previous six years.
Under coach Davey Brown, the Spartans will field 11 players. Five are returners and six are freshmen.
“We’ve got the potential to be a very good team,” Brown said. “It’s going to be a pretty big test, especially with some of the new players who have a lot of club experience. Now, they have to get used to playing at the high school level.
“I think we’ll be a fast team. We should be better than last year.”
The Spartans will turn to junior drivers Heather Connolly and Camila Grases and freshman goalkeeper Caroline Stern.
At Flintridge Prep, the Rebels will look to regroup after winning just two matches last season.
Flintridge Prep Coach Claire Thomas said the Rebels will attempt to continue building the team with the aid of several returners and underclassmen.
“We definitely expect to win more matches than we did last year,” said Thomas, whose team went 2-13 overall with both wins coming in Prep League play. “We had a lot of players who were new to the game last year and now they have some experience.”
The Rebels will feature junior hole/sets Brianna Boyles and Emma Flanagan and freshman driver Emily Alameddine.
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Charles Rich, charles.rich@latimes.com
Twitter: @TCNCharlesRich