In the first of two semi-final games, Golden West College, the #2-seeded team from Southern California, easily defeated Merced College, 14-4 to advance to the state championship game, which will be played on Saturday at 1:45 p.m.

The Rustlers (23-4), who finished in second place in the Orange Empire Conference and the Southern California Championships, are looking for their fifth state tile in school history, and first since 2009.

They jumped out to an early 7-2 lead at halftime and the outcome was never in question.

Gabriela Cabrera scored four times for Golden West, while Margaret Dix added three goals. The duo accounted for five of their team's goals in the first half.

As for Merced, they dropped just their second game of the season and will face the loser of the Riverside-Diablo Valley game for third place.

In the history of California Community College women's water polo, only twice has a team from Northern California advanced to the championship game. In 2010 and 2007, American River was defeated by Riverside College.

 

Women's Semi-Final #1                        1st            2nd            3rd            4th            Final

#1N Merced (30-2)                                    1            1            1            1                4

#2S Golden West (23-4)                        3            4            5            2              14

 

Goals:

Merced: Poni McGee 2 Goals; Halie Pruneda & Nicole Alt 1 Goal.

Golden West: Gabriela Cabrera 4 Goals; Margaret Dix 3 Goals; Jade Morton & Brooke Roy 2 Goals; Breanna Ritter, Christina Navarro & Anna-Laura Thorn 1 Goal.

 

Keeper Saves:

Merced: Liz Menefee – 4 Saves; Haley Olsen 5 Saves

Golden West: Taylor Morton – 4 Saves; Elizabeth Montero 4 Saves