Warriors outrun Rio Hondo Roadrunners in Women’s Water Polo

An+El+Camino+defender+blocks+a+shot+made+by+Joslyn+Larson+%28bottom%29+at+the+home+game+against+Rio+Hondo+on+Sept.+28.+The+Warriors+beat+the+Roadrunners+13-6+and+will+play+Mt.+San+Antonio+on+Oct.+5+at+home.+%28Raphael+Richardson+%7C+The+Union%29

An El Camino defender blocks a shot made by Joslyn Larson (bottom) at the home game against Rio Hondo on Sept. 28. The Warriors beat the Roadrunners 13-6 and will play Mt. San Antonio on Oct. 5 at home. (Raphael Richardson | The Union)

Fourth period. Four-and-a-half minutes left in the game.

Melissa Brill, who wears the number two on her cap, passes the ball to Eden Brooke, number six.

It wasn’t long until the ball went back and forth between the El Camino College Warriors and the Rio Hondo College Roadrunners.

Warriors have the ball. Roadrunners have the ball. Warriors, Roadrunners, Warriors, Roadrunners. Confusion in the middle of the pool.

Brooke gets the ball back, passes it to Brill, and throws it in to make the score 13-5 warriors.

The El Camino College Warriors dominated the Rio Hondo Roadrunners at the Women’s Water Polo South Coast Conference game on Sept. 28. This is the Warriors second win against the Roadrunners this month.

Brooke Baudendistel (left) tries to reach for the ball in the 4th period of the game. The Warriors won 13-6 and will play Mt. San Antonio at home on Oct. 5. (Raphael Richardson | The Union)
Brooke Baudendistel (left) tries to reach for the ball in the 4th period of the game. The Warriors won 13-6 and will play Mt. San Antonio at home on Oct. 5. (Raphael Richardson | The Union)

Before the game, El Camino’s Women’s Water Polo coach Shelby Haroldson said the game is a combination of many sports.

“It’s a mixture of soccer, wrestling, and basketball,” Haroldson said.

In the first period of the game, the Roadrunners started off strong with the only score in the period. Amera Elsayed scored after multiple passes to her teammates.

The Warriors made a huge comeback in the second period, scoring eight points compared to the Roadrunner’s two.

After getting the ball back from the Roadrunners, goalie Lux Anne Vargas, threw the ball to Brooke Baudendistel, which then went to Jackie Calhoun, then later to Brill, who scored.

Goalie Lux Anne Vargas prepares to throw the ball to one of her teammates at the home game against Rio Hondo on Sept. 28. Warriors won 13-6 and their next game is on Oct. 5 at home against Mt. San Antonio. (Raphael Richardson | The Union)
Goalie Lux Anne Vargas prepares to throw the ball to one of her teammates at the home game against Rio Hondo on Sept. 28. Warriors won 13-6 and their next game is on Oct. 5 at home against Mt. San Antonio. (Raphael Richardson | The Union)

Calhoun would dominate the second period, scoring four times. Roadrunners utility Melissa Hernandez, scored once in the second period.

Even with a small crowd, they cheered on the Warriors with all their might.

During halftime, Calhoun’s grandfather, David Baird, praised his granddaughter’s accomplishments with water polo.

“She’s the top scorer on the team,” Baird said.

Whistles blew to start the third period. Brooke for the first score of the second half. The Warriors go on to score two more times on their next two possessions.

After a brief timeout, Vargas resumed the game with a toss to Brooke and a quick score. Roadrunner’s Elsayed put up another point on the board.

At the end of the third period, Warriors were up by eight points.

In the fourth period, the Roadrunners scored. The Warriors would respond with a score. Janness Banh of the Roadrunners, would make the last score to end the game 13-6 Warriors.

After both teams shook hands, coach Haroldson said it was a good game.

“I thought it went really well,” Haroldson said. “It’s always nice to walk away with a win, especially in a conference game.”

Coach Shelby Haroldson and assistant coach Monica Lizarraga-Papke high-five the Roadrunners after their win 13-6. The Warriors will play Mt. San Antonio at home on Oct. 5. (Raphael Richardson | The Union)
Coach Shelby Haroldson and assistant coach Monica Lizarraga-Papke high-five the Roadrunners after their win 13-6. The Warriors will play Mt. San Antonio at home on Oct. 5. (Raphael Richardson | The Union)

Todd Lim, Rio Hondo’s coach for women’s water polo, said the team did a great job overall.

“I think we let the second quarter get away from us,” Lim said. “Other than that, I think it was a pretty close game.”

Lim also said the Warriors did a good job when it came to his team’s mistakes.

“El Camino capitalized on some mistakes,” Lim said. “So credit to them, they took advantage of that.”

With a win against Rio Hondo, El Camino’s women’s water polo are now 4-4. Their next game is Oct. 5 at home against Mt. San Antonio College at 3 p.m.