OCC dunks two

Orange Coast College’s women’s water polo team, ranked No. 5 in

the state, shelled Southwestern, 17-2, then swept past No. 6

Riverside, 11-3, to sail into today’s Long Beach Tournament semifinal

against Long Beach City College at noon at Los Alamitos Air Force

Base.

The Pirates will play a second game at 3 p.m. (third place) or 4

p.m. (the title) against either Golden West or Merced.

Erica Nicholson led Coast (20-6) in its victory over Southwestern

with five goals, and Shari Meyer and Shayna Kline netted four and

three goals, respectively. Heather Deyden had 10 saves.

In the victory over Riverside, Meyer scored six goals and Courtney

Robertson and Sara Natalizo scored two goals apiece. Deyden stood out

in the net, again, with 16 saves.

* In a men’s tournament at Cypress, Orange Coast was an 11-7

winner over Palomar, but was not up to the level of Long Beach CC in

its second pool game of the day, falling to the Vikings, 17-5.