Quintet of La Cañada High girls’ water polo players lauded by league
La Cañada High goalie Carolyne Stern is one of three Spartans water polo players to make the All-Rio Hondo League first team.
A run to a Rio Hondo League co-championship came accompanied with myriad league honors for the La Cañada High girls’ water polo team.
The Spartans picked up five selections on the all-league list after a season in which they finished 21-7, shared a Rio Hondo League title with Temple City and advanced to the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Division V playoffs.
“To get the semifinals, to be ranked every week this year, it was just a special season,” La Cañada Coach Davey Brown said. “Every game we went further in the playoffs and it was just like icing on the cake. Maybe the best part is that I have most of these girls for a few years.”
NEWSLETTER: Stay up to date with what’s going on in the 818 >>
Brown’s three first-teamers were all freshmen: Goalie Carolyne Stern, utility player Genevieve Fraipoint and driver Madison Solares.
La Cañada High utility player Genevieve Fraipoint takes a shot in a playoff game against Rio Mesa High at Pasadena City College on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016. Fraipoint is one of a trio of Spartans — all freshmen — to make the All-Rio Hondo League first team.
Stern totaled 203 saves (12.7 saves per contest) in only 16 games and turned in a stellar effort in the team’s 8-4 first-round victory over Brea Olinda in the Division V playoffs. In that contest at Pasadena City College, Stern stopped two penalty shots and finished with 10 saves.
“The sky is the limit with Carolyne,” Brown said. “With her back there, it allowed our defense to take some chances and get some steals because they knew they had her back there to bail them out.”
Fraipoint was her team’s top threat on offense and finished with 67 goals, 16 assists and 15 steals in 19 games.
“She’s another one of these players who’s fearless,” Brown said. “When we needed a big shot or a big pass or we needed to get the defense going, she would find a way to a get a steal, a goal or fire up her teammates.”
Join the conversation on Facebook >>
Solares added 26 goals, eight assists and eight steals in 20 games.
“Madison was our back-up quarterback to Gen and there’s a lot you can say about her,” Brown said. “She’s a good defensive player and strong on offense, as well. She was particularly good on lob shots.”
Spartans junior driver Heather Connolly (19 goals, seven assists and five steals in 16 games) and freshman two-meter attacker Mimi Zwaneveld (39 goals, seven assists and three steals in 18 games) were named honorable mentions.
Temple City junior Gabi Sicat was named the league’s most valuable player.
Editor’s Note: The La Cañada statistics provided do not encompass the season’s entirety.
--
Andrew J. Campa, andrew.campa@latimes.com
Twitter: @campadresports
--
ALSO:
Local trio of girls’ soccer players earns All-CIF accolades
Flintridge Prep, La Cañada, St. Francis soccer each nab All-CIF acclaim
Singles leads way for St. Francis tennis in win over Crescenta Valley
