The Enumclaw Girls Water Polo Team rallied to score six goals in the fourth quarter, and beat the Puyallup Vikings 14-11 in the two teams’ last game of the regular season.
Enumclaw scored the first two goals of the game, but Puyallup tied the game at 2-2 with one minute left in the opening quarter. Senior Ali Ballard put the Hornets ahead 3-2 with 39 seconds left in the period.
The Vikings scored three in the second quarter, to take a 5-4 advantage into halftime.
Puyallup scored five in the third period, to increase their lead to 10-8 going into the final quarter.
The Vikings scored in the first minute of the final period, increasing their lead to 11-8. Both teams were scoreless on their next possessions, until Enumclaw went on a scoring spree, scoring three goals in 43 seconds, to tie the game at 11-11 with 4:01 left in the game.
The Hornet defense continued to shut down Puyallup’s offense, holding them scoreless for the last 6:11 of the game, and the Hornets scored another three goals in the final 1:47 to put the game out of reach.
Five Hornets scored in the win, led by Ali Ballard’s five goals, and Erin Stucker’s four. Annie Birklid and Hannah Kinniburgh scored two each, and Katie Larrea scored one.
The Hornets finished their regular season with a 14-6 record, and an 8-2 league record. Enumclaw opens State tournament play on Wednesday, May 18 against the Wilson Rams, at Rogers High School in Puyallup, WA.
