Community college women’s water polo: Pirates outlast Riverside

RIVERSIDE - Fresh off its Ventura Tournament Championship, the

undefeated Orange Coast College women’s water polo team held off Orange

Empire Conference nemesis Riverside, 6-4, in a battle of the top two

teams in the state, Wednesday.

The Pirates, ranked No. 1 in the state by the California Community

College Water Polo poll, improved their winning streak to 17 and are 4-0

in the OEC. Devon Wright led OCC with two goals and posted five steals,

while Christine McDonald added three steals and two assists to help deal

Riverside (20-1, 3-1) its first loss of the season.

Pirates Neisha Hoagland, Erica Nicholson, Nichole Sonnenfield and

Ellen Dolan scored one goal each and goalie Heather Deyden, a Newport

Harbor High product, anchored the defense, recording six saves.

ORANGE EMPIRE CONFERENCE

Orange Coast 6, Riverside 4

Orange Coast 2 1 2 1 - 6

Riverside 0 1 1 2 - 4

OCC - Wright 2, Hoagland 1, Nicholson 1, Sonnenfield 1, Dolan 1. Saves

- Deyden 6.

RCC - Lewison 2, Davis 1, Stallings 1. Saves - Holshouser 8.