La Cañada Flintridge — As just a sophomore on the talented La Cañada High girls’ water polo team, Mimi Zwaneveld has proven she can handle a variety of responsibilities.
On Thursday, she took on the role of leading scorer as Zwaneveld finished with a match-high six goals and added two assists to help host La Cañada to a 15-4 Rio Hondo League win against South Pasadena.
“My coaches and I have a list of things that I’m trying to get better at,” said Zwaneveld, who picked up All-CIF, All-Area and all-league recognition last season when she helped the Spartans advance to the CIF Southern Section Division V semifinals. “The coaches have helped me work on finishing my shots and it’s made a difference.
“You start to score and you get on a roll. We were able to stick to our plan today.”
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La Ca–ada High School girls water polo player #10 Mimi Zwaneveld scores a goal under pressure from #17 Jael Osborne during home game vs. South Pasadena High School, at the Spartans pool in La Ca–ada Flintridge on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. LCHS throttled SPHS 15-4.
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La Ca–ada High School girls water polo player #4 Heather Connelly scores a goal with little pressure from #3 Ashley Gao during home game vs. South Pasadena High School, at the Spartans pool in La Ca–ada Flintridge on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. LCHS throttled SPHS 15-4.
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La Ca–ada High School girls water polo player #7 Genevieve Fraipont takes a shot on goal under pressure from #11 Sumi Rudsky and #7 Hayden Carlson during home game vs. South Pasadena High School, at the Spartans pool in La Ca–ada Flintridge on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. LCHS throttled SPHS 15-4.
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La Cañada High School girls water polo player #12 Tess Fundter battles for the ball with #9 Sydney Shettleroe during home game vs. South Pasadena High School, at the Spartans pool in La Cañada Flintridge on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. LCHS throttled SPHS 15-4.
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La Ca–ada High School girls water polo player #9 Camila Grases tries to keep control of the ball under pressure from opposing players during home game vs. South Pasadena High School, at the Spartans pool in La Ca–ada Flintridge on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. LCHS throttled SPHS 15-4.
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La Ca–ada High School girls water polo player #3 Julia Nichols squares up for a shot over #17 Jael Osborne during home game vs. South Pasadena High School, at the Spartans pool in La Ca–ada Flintridge on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. LCHS throttled SPHS 15-4.
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La Ca–ada High School girls water polo player #1 Carolyne Stern blocks a shot on goal during home game vs. South Pasadena High School, at the Spartans pool in La Ca–ada Flintridge on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. LCHS throttled SPHS 15-4.
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La Ca–ada High School girls water polo player #5 Gabriela Lichucki aims towards the goal during home game vs. South Pasadena High School, at the Spartans pool in La Ca–ada Flintridge on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. LCHS throttled SPHS 15-4.
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La Ca–ada High School girls water polo player #2 Eve Branda shoots on goal over #9 Sydney Shettleroe during home game vs. South Pasadena High School, at the Spartans pool in La Ca–ada Flintridge on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. LCHS throttled SPHS 15-4.
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La Ca–ada High School girls water polo player #12 Tess Fundter plays tough defense on #9 Sydney Shettleroe during home game vs. South Pasadena High School, at the Spartans pool in La Ca–ada Flintridge on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. LCHS throttled SPHS 15-4.
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La Ca–ada High School girls water polo player #10 Mimi Zwaneveld scores a goal under pressure during home game vs. South Pasadena High School, at the Spartans pool in La Ca–ada Flintridge on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. LCHS throttled SPHS 15-4.
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La Ca–ada High School girls water polo player #1 Carolyne Stern makes a save during home game vs. South Pasadena High School, at the Spartans pool in La Ca–ada Flintridge on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. LCHS throttled SPHS 15-4.
(Raul Roa / Staff Photographer) La Cañada (10-6, 2-0 in league) also got four goals from Heather Connelly, two from Madison Solares and one each from Genevieve Fraipont, Camilla Grases and Caroline Daniels to turn back South Pasadena (8-4, 2-2) in the first of two season match-ups between the teams. The Spartans, ranked second in Division II behind Riverside Martin Luther King, also received 10 saves from goalkeeper Carolyne Stern.
Zwaneveld had five first-half goals to give the Spartans, who split the league championship last season with Temple City, a 9-2 halftime lead. She scored her first goal with 5:37 remaining in the first quarter to make it 1-0. Zwaneveld notched her third goal with 43 seconds to go in the first quarter to make it 6-1. Zwaneveld then scored two goals late in the second quarter, the last one making it 9-2 with 47 seconds left.
“She’s got such a great shot,” said La Cañada first-year Coach Nicki Davidson, whose team has scored 29 combined goals in its first two league matches. “She’s got good form and that’s because she’s always working hard in practices and in games.
“With our team, we have a lot of depth and we have a lot of options. That’s something you need in Division II. You get more options and you can find different ways to create scoring opportunities.”
La Cañada limited South Pasadena to one goal in each quarter. The 6-foot-1 Stern, who was bestowed with All-CIF, All-Area and all-league first-team recognition last season, made seven saves in the first half.
The Spartans converted on three of their six man-advantage chances. The Tigers capitalized on two of six man-advantage chances.
South Pasadena got one goal apiece from Jael Osborne, Sydney Shettleroe, Olivia Hunt and Irene Lee.
The Spartans and Tigers will meet again Feb. 7 at South Pasadena.
