@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.