Erika Trujillo scored four first-half goals and Karly Brady blocked two power-play chances as Western’s girls water polo team opened a commanding lead against La Quinta en route to 14-5 victory in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 7 playoffs at Garden Grove on Tuesday.
Trujillo, a senior center, finished with a game-high five goals to help power the Pioneers (19-7) to a 10-0 lead at halftime.
Brady finished with nine saves as Western posted its first playoff victory since 2011.
Madison Canales added four goals for the Pioneers and Sara Morris netted three.
Lauren Jaffke scored four goals for La Quinta (7-12).
Western, ranked sixth in Division 7, plays at Palm Springs in the second round Thursday.
Also in Division 7:
Estancia 12, Bell Gardens 8: Sophomore Katelyn Chesemore scored six goals and Hannah Smith made nine saves to help the host Eagles (13-6) post their first playoff victory in school history.
La Sierra of Riverside 10, Loara 9: The Eagles scored the final two goals, including the winner by Karina Cervantes with 50 seconds left, to turn away the visiting Saxons. Jacquelyn Garroutte scored five goals for Loara (10-7).
In wild-card games:
In Division 3:
Irvine 7, Foothill Tech 3: Jessica Thompson scored twice at the Woollett Aquatics Center to lead the Vaqueros (12-17) and assistant coach Crystal Hinman, who filled in for her father (back issue). Irvine plays at Santiago of Corona on Wednesday.
In Division 5:
Tesoro 12, Burroughs of Burbank 3: Sara Cuttrell and Emily Diacono each scored four goals to lead the host and second-seeded Titans (13-16), who play at Beaumont on Wednesday.
In Division 1:
Santa Barbara 4, Huntington Beach 2: Grace Raisin scored twice for the host Dons (16-13), who avenged an earlier loss against the Oilers to advance to Wednesday’s first round at Foothill. Santa Barbara led, 3-1, at half.
Contact the writer: dalbano@scng.com
