Playoff-bound Flintridge Prep girls’ water polo takes third in league
LA CAÑADA — Flintridge Prep girls’ water polo coach Andrew Phillips had positive vibes about his team entering the season.
What Phillips wanted to accomplish was moving up in the Prep League and ending a lengthy playoff drought.
Led by freshman utility Natalie Kaplanyan, who scored a match-high six goals, Flintridge Prep posted a 12-7 league home win against Westridge on Wednesday to finish third in league as the Rebels have accomplished those aforementioned goals.
The Rebels (9-10, 7-5 in league) had earlier clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2003.
“I could see the improvement from the first day of practice right to now,” said Phillips, who took over the program last season. “We have some players with different kinds of experience, but they showed they could pull through those tough tough times and become a team that can compete each game.
“They are still learning. There’s plenty of potential and we have a very fast team and we were able to get some goals off of counter-attacks. To make the playoffs is awesome and we’ll be ready.”
The CIF Southern Section office will unveil playoff pairings for all seven divisions Saturday. The Rebels will compete in Division VII.
Flintridge Prep led throughout against Westridge (10-18, 6-6) in the battle for third place. Flintridge Prep recorded a 7-5 win at Westridge on Jan. 29.
Flintridge Prep raced to a 3-0 lead in the first quarter on goals by Maxine Mangubat, MaKena Walkett and Kaplanyan.
Kaplanyan scored on a five-meter shot with 4:01 left in the second quarter to make it 5-2 before the Tigers got goals from Samantha Udell and Marissa Aivazis late in the half to pull to within 5-4.
Kaplanyan scored two third-quarter goals, her second giving the Rebels an 8-5 lead with 2:22 left.
“I wanted to come out and contribute and I wanted to push my team,” Kaplanyan said. “We wanted to get a top-three spot in league and we did that and it’s great to be able to go to the playoffs.
“With our team, you always like to see everyone step up. I think that’s why we’ve been able to win. I could see the improvement.”
The Rebels got two goals each from Walkett and Danielle Maxwell and one apiece from Mangubat and Paige Nixon.
“You feel good about yourself when you see them giving it their all,” said Phillips, who guided the boys’ team to a league championship in the fall.
Westridge, which will compete in the Division IV playoffs, received three goals from Grace Collins, two from Udell and one each from Aivazis and Amanda Tse.
Twitter: @TCNCharlesRich
