IRVINE – No matter what the outcome, history was going to be made in the CIF-SS Division 6 girls water polo title game.
Palm Desert denied Yorba Linda a chance to repeat as champions by defeating the Mustangs, 8-6, Saturday night at William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center.
Megan Siemsen and Brittany Amaya scored two goals apiece for the Mustangs (25-8).
The Aztecs (28-3) captured Palm Desert’s first girls water polo championship. Yorba Linda beat Palm Desert in a one-goal game earlier this year.
The Aztecs adjusted by limiting the offensive opportunities for Amy Castellano and Taylor Best. The Mustangs’ top two attackers combined for one goal.
Castellano opened the scoring with a penalty shot midway through the first quarter. Addison Halligan struck back with a natural hat trick in 1:13 to give Palm Desert a 3-1 lead.
Burdie Forsch scored to bring the Mustangs to 3-2 in the second period. Yorba Linda hit five posts after her goal, but could not secure the tie before halftime.
Palm Desert dared the Mustangs to shoot from the point for most of the game.
“They did their best to try to step up,” Mustangs coach Jessica Ernst said. “It just was not our day. We hit the bar every single time.”
In the third quarter, Siemsen tied it with a well-placed shot inside the right corner.
Palm Desert answered by breaking down the Mustangs with its speed. Halligan raced ahead of the pack to receive outlet passes from goalkeeper Savannah Clyde (10 saves). Halligan drew a penalty shot, and Emily Garczynski converted the opportunity for a 4-3 Palm Desert lead. A breakaway on the next possession led to another Halligan goal.
Amaya scored twice in the fourth quarter, but it was not enough as the sharpshooting of Elise Stein (two goals) and Sarah Nichols put the game away.
Becca Stephenson had 12 saves for Yorba Linda.
