COMMUNITY COLLEGE WATER POLO : Golden West Gets the Best of Cuesta This Time

Defending state champion Golden West College defeated Cuesta, 9-7, in overtime in the final of the Golden West water polo tournament Saturday.

Cuesta and Golden West--ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the state--have met three times this season and each game ended with a 9-7 score. Cuesta (14-1) defeated Golden West (13-2) in the championships of the Cuesta and Merced tournaments.

Saturday, Cuesta tied the score on a goal by Toky Proanopie with 28 seconds remaining in regulation.

Torey Culbertson scored twice for Golden West in overtime. His second goal, with 1:50 remaining in the second three-minute overtime period, gave the Rustlers an 8-7 lead they never relinquished.

Edward Van Luijn , who led Golden West with three goals, had 13 in the three games of the tournament. Golden West goalkeeper Scott Taylor, playing for the first time since he broke a finger two weeks ago, had 16 saves in the final and 34 in the tournament.