Mira Costa’s girls water polo team seeded second in CIF Division 3 playoffs, enjoys big win in opener
Jordan Raney and the second-seeded Mira Costa girls water polo team are aiming for a Division 3 championship. Photo
Bay League champion Mira Costa (21-7) earned the second seed in Division 3 and opened the postseason with an impressive win.
The Mustangs routed visiting Etiwanda 13-3 in the first round Wednesday, advancing Coach Jon Reichardt’s team to the quarterfinals on Saturday when it will host No. 9 St. Lucy’s
(20-8) at 5 p.m.
Jordan Raney scored six of her eight goals in the first half helping Mira Costa take a 10-1 lead into halftime.
Kelly Giery added three goals and Isabella Magno and Kaylee Brownsberger scored one goal apiece for the Mustangs who are striving to reach the CIF finals for the first time in the history of the girls water polo program.
Goalkeeper Katy Heatherton recorded 14 saves for Mira Costa.
“We won the games we needed to win,” Reichardt said in reference to the high seed. “Everyone’s playing real well right now and we have a good shot a bringing home a title. But we’re focusing on one game at a time and not looking ahead.”
If Mira Costa runs the table, it will be the second CIF championship for Reichardt this school year. His boys water polo team won the Division 3 title in the fall season.
Redondo was awarded a wild-card berth and was a 9-7 winner in a wild-card game at Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday. However, the Sea Hawks (11-11) saw their season come to an end Wednesday will a tough 18-11 road loss to No. 4 Ayala.
Madison East and Bridgette Schneider each scored three goals and Madeline McCaw scored twice for Redondo.
Bay League runner-up Palos Verdes (11-16) defeated visiting Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks 12-4 in the opening round and will travel to take on t top-seeded Los Osos (21-9) on Saturday .
Eighth-seeded Peninsula (19-7) suffered a heartbreaking 10-9 loss at No. 6 Upland on Wednesday.
In Division 6 wild-card games on Tuesday, El Segundo (13-16) lost to visiting Mayfield 11-3 and Chadwick (8-12) lost at No. 6 Cypress 11-5.
Brackets and results are available at cifss.org.