Crescenta Valley water polo takes care of business against Pasadena

BURBANK — Emblematic of the dominance put forth through its undefeated Pacific League run, the Crescenta Valley High girls’ water polo team wasted no time in flexing its might at the onset of the Pacific League Tournament.

The Falcons, ranked No. 1 in CIF Southern Section Division V, ran off 10 first-quarter goals, converting on 10 of 11 shots and allowing just one shot in return as they never looked back in a 17-4 throttling of Pasadena in the tournament semifinals on Tuesday at Burbank High.

“The girls just came out and took care of business early and made a statement,” Falcons Coach Brent Danna said.

Six Falcons tallied goals in the first-quarter blitz, while the defense allowed just one shot by the Bulldogs in putting the game away early as Crescenta Valley could seemingly do no wrong.

“When we’re like that, we’re in the zone,” said Lynley Fernandez, who scored three goals in the opening-quarter run and a match-high four overall. “It’s a good feeling, it’s fun to play like that.”

With the win, Crescenta Valley (26-2, 7-0 in league) assured itself a share of its fourth straight league title, with the championship match against Burroughs — a 5-2 winner over Glendale on Tuesday — on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Burbank. Pasadena will play Glendale in the third-place matchup an hour earlier.

“We’re very fortunate to be able to play the No. 1-ranked team in our division before our third-place match. ... We were just focusing on executing,” said Pasadena Coach Jennifer Jacobsen-Huse, whose team previously lost to CV, 28-4. “We had nothing to lose in this game.”

With 2:22 left in the first half, the Bulldogs (9-20, 2-5) scored their first goal, as Claire Taylor, who had two goals, brought the score to 11-1. At the half, it was 13-1, with the Falcons having eased off the gas.

Jade Christensen and Daniela Garcia also had scores for Pasadena.

Crescenta Valley got three goals apiece from Audrey Taylor and Katie Benson, while Shannon Hovanesian, Cameron Campbell and Elissa Arnold had two each. Caitlin Connell also scored for the Falcons, who are focused straight ahead at wrapping up the league title all for themselves before beginning next week’s CIF playoffs.

“We feel like we’re in the right place,” Fernandez said. “We’re really excited and we’re ready.”