Community college women’s water polo: Pirates come back with power

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - It seems as if last year’s season only made the Orange

Coast College women’s water polo team stronger. Though, the 2000 Pirates

settled for second place in the state, just behind powerhouse Golden

West, this might be the year OCC climbs over the hump.

Coast finished with a 29-8-1 overall record as six of its losses came

at the hands of the Rustlers. The other two setbacks were to four-year

schools, Loyola Marymount and UC Irvine.

The Pirates lost in the state championship game to Golden West, 13-3,

but the loss has only inspired Coast to come back with more power this

year.

Coach Don Watson returns after a two-year hiatus and assistant coach

Mike Giles remains on staff. Giles was the coach for the past two years

and he has been instrumental in the recruiting, which has resulted in

acquiring Orange County stars, some of which are returning sophomores.

Sophomore Katie Logan is a key contributor of the defense and Kristina

Miloslavic also returns as one of the leaders on offense.

All-Americans Devon Wright and Neisha Hoagland, along with

All-Southern California performers Christine McDonald and Tia Montalvo

are hungry to get back at the Rustlers. Erica Anderson, Ellen Dolan and

Megan Bowers are also among OCC’s nine returners.

Wright, whose brother is Major League Baseball star pitcher Jaret

Wright, experienced a worthwhile summer as she made the most of her club

season.

Giles said she received a great amount of confidence this summer.

“I’m really excited about this team,” Giles said. “A team like this

can put a school on the map. And we’re already an established program. We

really have an opportunity to go all the way with this team.”

The Pirates’ talent also includes former Newport Harbor High standout

Heather Deyden, who will offer her goaltending skills as the Pirates’

starter.

Coast has also brought in El Toro High products Nicole Sonnenfeld and

Erica Nicholson.

The recruiting class and the returning sophomores have been enough for

the Community College Water Polo Poll to take notice. The Pirates are

ranked No. 1, ahead of Golden West and Riverside, respectively.

“This season could be special with a team like this,” Giles said.

“It’s going to be a great game when we play Golden West this year.”

ORANGE COAST COLLEGE WOMEN’S WATER POLO

1 Heather Deyden, goalie Fr.

1A Casey Finnegan, goalie Fr.

2 Neisha Hoagland, utility So.

3 Devon Wright, utility So.

4 Erica Nicholson, utility Fr.

5 Christine McDonald, utility So.

6 Kristina Miloslavic, two-meters So.

7 Katie Logan, two-meters So.

8 Megan Bowers, driver So.

9 Liz Zuliani, driver So.

10 Tia Montalvo, utility So.

11 Erica Anderson, lefty So.

12 Ellen Dolan, utility So.

13 Nichole Sonnenfeld, two-meters Fr.

14 Shannon Huntress, two-meters Fr.

16 Amy Contreras, two-meters Fr.

18 Courtney Brown, utility Fr.

19 Shari Meyer, lefty Fr.

Coach: Don Watson

Assistant coach: Mike Giles