@EnumclawPolo

Follow the Enumclaw (WA) High School Water Polo Teams on Twitter @EnumclawPolo and Instagram @EnumclawWaterPolo. You can contact us by email at enumclawpolo@gmail.com

Hornets Clinch 2nd, Qualify For State

With a dramatic, come from behind 10-8 victory over Auburn Riverside on Thursday, the Enumclaw Girls Water Polo Team earned a spot in their sixth consecutive State tournament. The win clinched second place for the Hornets in the East Division of the South Sound Girls Water Polo League and an automatic berth at the State tournament.

Auburn Riverside's Ravens got off to a fast start, and quickly had a 2-0 lead over the Hornets after two fast break goals in the opening three minutes of the game. Hornet Ali Ballard cut the lead to one, scoring with 13 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Ballard scored two more, and Kelsey Sonneson scored one, to tie the game 4-4 going into the half.

The Ravens defense held Enumclaw scoreless in the third quarter, and scored three, to hold a 7-4 advantage entering the final period. Enumclaw earned an exclusion early in the final period, but failed to score on the power play; Ballard stole the ball after the Ravens recovered it, and scored 52 seconds into the quarter. She scored again on a fast break less than a minute later to bring the Hornets within one goal, and Erin Stucker tied the game on a fast break 33 seconds later.

The Hornets weren't through, as Stucker and Sonneson each added a goal in the next 49 seconds, to give Enumclaw a 9-7 lead with 3:33 left in the game. The Ravens narrowed the lead with a goal with 1:53 left, but Sonneson shut the door on the visiting team with another goal from seven meters, for the final 10-8 Hornet win.

The Hornets travel to Gig Harbor on Tuesday to face Peninsula in a league game, and play their final league contest on Thursday at Sumner against the combined Bonney Lake/Sumner team. Enumclaw then hosts Rogers on Friday, and Gig Harbor on Saturday.

Enumclaw Beats Auburn, Improves League Record to 5-2

The Enumclaw Girls Water Polo Team beat Auburn 15-7 on Thursday, April 26, improving their season record to 8-5, and their league record to 5-2. The Hornets currently are in second place in the East Division of the South Sound Girls Water Polo League.

Auburn got on the scoreboard first in Tuesday's game, but the Hornets scored four straight goals, for a 4-1 Enumclaw advantage in the opening quarter. The Trojans scored five in the second period, while limiting Enumclaw to a single goal, and Auburn held a 6-5 lead at halftime.

Five Hornets scored in the third period, and the Hornets held a commanding 12-7 lead going into the final quarter. Enumclaw held the Trojans scoreless in the fourth quarter, and added another three goals, for the final 15-7 score.

Six Hornets scored in the win, led by Erin Stucker, with five goals. Kelsey Sonneson and Annie Birklid each scored three goals, Allie Larrea scored two, and Ali Ballard and Katie Larrea each scored one. The Hornet defense held Auburn scoreless for the final twelve minutes of the game.

The Hornets host Auburn Riverside on Thursday at 4:30.

Hornets Beat Stadium

Enumclaw's Girls Water Polo Team beat last year's fourth place finisher at State, the Stadium Tigers, 14-6, in game held at the Enumclaw Aquatic Center on Thursday, April 21.

The game started as a defensive struggle, with the Hornet defense holding Stadium scoreless for the first period, while the Tigers limited Enumclaw to two goals – one each by Erin Stucker and Ali Ballard. The Enumclaw offense broke loose in the second quarter, with Stucker and Ballard scoring two goals each, and Kelsey Sonneson scoring one, while Stadium managed to slip one past Hornet goalkeeper Megan Lesmeister. Enumclaw led 7-1 at halftime.

The Hornets increased their lead in the third quarter, outscoring the visiting Tigers 4-3, to take an 11-4 advantage into the final period, and finished the game with goals by Sonneson, Ballard, and newcomer Bella Davenport in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

Senior Ali Ballard led all scorers with five goals, Erin Stucker scored four, Sonneson added three, and Alina VanRuff and Bella Davenport each scored a goal for the Hornets.

The Hornets are currently in second place in the East Division, with a 4-2 league record, and hold a 7-5 overall record. The Hornets host the Auburn Trojans in a league game at the Enumclaw Aquatic Center on Tuesday, April 26. Game time is 4:30.

Enumclaw Wins in Puyallup, 15-10

The Enumclaw High School Girls Water Polo Team traveled to Puyallup for a Friday night game against the Puyallup Vikings, and came home with a 15-10 win.

The home team Vikings took an early 2-0 lead, with goals by Hannah Clark and Monica Gallucci in the first three minutes of the opening period, but the Hornets tied the game on goals by Hannah Kinniburgh and Erin Stucker later in the period, and went on to take a 4-3 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

Puyallup stayed close through the second quarter, with Enumclaw holding a 7-5 lead at halftime, but the Hornets went on a 5-1 scoring spree in the third period, led by three fast break goals by Erin Stucker, and two by Ali Ballard. The Vikings mustered four more goals in the final quarter, but weren't able to stop Enumclaw's offense, as the Hornets scored three in the fourth quarter, for the final 15-10 score.

Enumclaw's scoring was led by senior Erin Stucker. with seven goals, and Ali Ballard with three. Annie Birklid scored two, and Hannah Kinniburgh, Kelsey Sonneson, and Alexis Firlotte each scored one.

The Hornets are in second place in the East Division, with a 4-2 league record, and are 6-4 overall. Enumclaw's girls travel to Tacoma next Tuesday to face the Wilson Rams, and host Stadium on Thursday. Both games are non-league contests.

Hornets Lose to Mountainview

The Enumclaw High School Girls Water Polo Team lost to the Auburn Mountainview Lions, 16-13, on Thursday, April 14, in a game that may determine the league champions. As a result of Thursday's game, Mountainview is in first place in the East Division with a 5-1 record, and Enumclaw is in second, with a 4-2 record. Both teams have played each other twice, and are scheduled to play a second game with each remaining league team before the end of the regular season.

The Hornets started off well, with goals by Hannah Kinniburgh, and Annie Birklid in the opening two minutes of play. Mountainview's Amanda Nuttall put the Lions on the board with 4:22 left in the first period, but Ali Ballard responded with a Hornet goal 15 seconds later. The two teams exchanged goals through the quarter, for a 5-4 Enumclaw advantage after one quarter.

Nuttall led the Lions in scoring with five goals through the next two periods to help put Mountainview ahead 13-8 after three quarters. The Hornets put together a rally in the final quarter, outscoring the Lions 5-3, but came up short, for the 16-13 final score.

Kelsey Sonneson led Enumclaw's scoring, with five goals. Ali Ballard and Annie Birklid scored three each, and Erin Stucker and Hannah Kinniburgh each scored a goal.

The Hornets travel to Puyallup on Friday to take on the Puyallup Vikings on a non-league, but competitive, rivalry game. Friday's game is also Puyallup's annual Pink & White game, raising funds and awareness for a breast cancer cure. Teams will wear pink and white, and play with pink game balls; admission fees will be contributed to the Komen fund for the cure. Game time is 7:30.

Enumclaw Beats Bonney Lake/Sumner

The EHS Girls Water Polo Team beat Bonney Lake/Sumner on Tuesday, April 12 at the Enumclaw Aquatic Center, 28-0. All Hornet field players scored, and freshman goalkeeper Megan Lesmeister registered her first shutout, and the first Hornet shutout since the 2006 season.

Scoring for Enumclaw were Ali Ballard and Hannah Kinniburgh, with four goals each; Erin Stucker, Alina VanRuff, and Bella Davenport with three each; Kelsey Sonneson, Annie Birklid, Allie Larrea, Katie Larrea, and Logann Erskine with two goals apiece, and Alexis Firlotte with one.

The Hornets travel to Auburn on Thursday to face Auburn Mountainview, in a game that could determine the league champion.