Santana, West Hills Advance in Water Polo Playoffs

Girls water polo in the San Diego Section became a CIF-sanctioned sport for the 1997 season.

Over the previous 14 years, both and high schools have held their own in league competition, but the playoffs have been a different story.

On Wednesday, , both the accomplished a major breakthrough, each collecting postseason victories for the first time ever.

Santana, participating in the Division III tournament, received a final-minute goal by Amber Schisler to nip visiting La Jolla Country Day, 8-7. In the second game of the CIF doubleheader, West Hills then punched its own ticket to the quarterfinals by rallying past Bonita Vista, 13-7.  

Div. III: Sultans Make Splash

Santana's dream of finally achieving an initial playoff triumph was nearly ruined after the Torreys registered three late goals, including the equalizer by Savannah Dowling with 1:15 remaining.

However, the Sultans controlled the balance of the contest, including Schisler's winner -- giving the sopohmore the hat trick -- off a nice feed by Kaci Turpin with 35 seconds left.

Schisler then registered a steal to thwart one final LJCD chance. Santana coach Janelle Malueg elected to accept an extra possession rather than a penalty shot with six seconds to go following a desperate Torreys foul, allowing the team to run out the clock on the milestone victory.

"Even though they tied it, we kept our composure and our focus," noted Schisler, who scored her team's final three goals.

Whitney Sammons scored twice in the first period for a 3-2 lead, then Turpin added singled markers in the second and third periods for a 5-3 advantage. Schisler then started her scoring spree, with Turpin assisting on all three of her goals.

On the game-winner, La Jolla Country Day anticipated the ball going to Sammons, the Sultans' scoring leader. So Malueg called timeout to set up the game-winning play.

"We had Whitney driving in while I was driving out," noted Schisler. "One of their defenders went with Whitney, so the pass went to me."

Still, with a defender in her face and the goalie leaning toward the strong (left) side, Schisler was deftly able to rotate her body and fire her shot to the far post.

Santana (20-9), the Grossmont Valley League champion, advances to Saturday's quarterfinals against top-seed The Bishop's (23-4), with the match slated for La Jolla High's Coggan Family pool (http://www.cfaquatics.org/).

Div. II: Pack Advances Despite Slow Start

saw its entire season reflected in Wednesday's decision over Bonita Vista, also held at the pool at Santana High.

Just like the start of the season -- the Wolf Pack posted an unsightly 1-12 record out of the gate -- the team overcame a slow start and is now building and growing just in time to finally gain that long-awaited CIF victory.

After getting stymied by Barons sophomore goalie Victoria Reyes, Wolf Pack center-forward Celeste Fessler ignited the team's offense.

"We woke up and found fire in our eyes," said Fessler, who scored twice to close the first half to get West Hills even at 5-5. "We weren't shooting very well, but then finally started to find the corners."

Reyes opened the second period with five straight stops, including rejecting a 5-meter (penalty) shot by Fessler, then deflecting the ball away moments later on a 2-on-1 break.

Fessler converted a long pass from Pack goalie Staci Kimari for a goal with 1:23 left before the break, then Jessica Ratliff fed Fessler for another goal exactly a minute later to draw even.

The second half was all West Hills after Sara Hamm opened the third period with consecutive goals. The first came with the man advantage just 39 seconds into the half off another Ratliff pass, then Hamm scored on the rebound off a shot that struck the far post.

In all, the Wolf Pack outscored the Barons 10-2 after trailing 4-3 through the opening minutes.

"Our defense started to anticipate their passes and made a bunch of steals," said Kimari, a junior, who stopped a penalty shot of her own in the fourth period. "It really changed the game."

West Hills (12-17) has now captured 11 of 16 to overcome its poor start to the season. The Pack advance to meet fourth-seeded Point Loma in Friday's quarterfinals at La Jolla High.

In other Division II action, Ramona outlasted Serra, 10-8, while Westview eliminated visiting Helix, 11-8.  

Ramona 10, Serra 8 -- Tied at 5-5 at the half, Bulldogs goalie Tiffany Larson posted a third-quarter shuout to turn the tide on the Conquistadors (6-21). Larson finished with 14 saves.

Rebecca VanTol scored four goals for Ramona (14-16), while Angelina Uriostegui completed a six-point game with three goals and three assists. The Lady Dawgs next meet third-seeded Scripps Ranch in Friday's quarterfinals at La Jolla.

Westview 11, Helix 8 -- Kelly Myers scored four times, while Mari Ranj and Alba Little-Sana added three goals each, as the Wolverines (10-19) exploded for six goals in the second period to put away the visiting Highlanders (11-18).

Westview meets Freeway 56 neighbor Mt. Carmel in Friday's quarters. The Sundevils (14-13) are seeded second behind No. 1 Valhalla.