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Last Wednesday, PCC’s women’s water polo team battled against El Camino College and won 13-0, marking their first win in the South Coast Conference this season.

Communication was the key to playing well as a team, according to freshman goalie Clarque DeYoung. A new addition to the team, DeYoung is ranked as the No. 1 women’s water polo goalkeeper in the South Coast Conference.

“I think the team as a whole played well together and talked a lot more than usual,” said team captain and utility player Ariahn Givens. “We counter-attacked really well and everyone had a chance to shoot!”

Even though the Lancers had a lead on El Camino the entire game, the players still kept going fiercely, not giving their opponents a chance to retaliate.

“We did not stop our momentum,” DeYoung said. “We still worked the ball around, got open for passing and came back on defense.”

The Lancers definitely met the expectations of coach Terry Stoddard, who said two weeks prior to the game that he expected them to be well prepared when they meet El Camino and hoped that they would play confidently.

Wing-driver Jovana Meza did not play in the game but she learned a lot just by observing the way the team played in this game.

“It was definitely an eye opener on what the team needs to work on, in terms of us being a whole,” she said.

In spite of El Camino captain Richelle Miller’s five steals, the Lancers were able to emerge victorious. The team last played El Camino on Sep. 18 in the El Camino Tournament where they also triumphed with a score of 16-0.

The Lancers will next face East Los Angeles College on Oct. 7 at the PCC Aquatic Center.

“I’m kind of nervous but I hope the team continues to play well and play together,” Givens said. “I believe we can win the game if we apply our practice skills to the game.”

“If we work together and keep up the communication, we will play as a good team,” DeYoung added.

East Los Angeles is currently on a four-game losing streak.

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