Clayfield, Pirates hang on to top Chargers, 8-5
COSTA MESA -- Alexa Clayfield scored four goals to lead the Orange Coast College women's water polo team to an 8-5 Orange Empire Conference win over visiting Cypress College on Wednesday afternoon.
Lyric Soto added two goals for the Pirates (6-6, 1-1 in OEC), while single goals were turned in by Alexis Heyerly and Phoebe Barker.
For the Chargers (5-10, 0-3), Ariel Burns had two goals, while Kiley Kendal, Emilee Yates and Haley Church each had single goals.
Coast got things going early in the contest as Heyerly stole a passing attempt and swam the length of the pool and beat Chargers' goalie Becca Stephenson just 43 seconds into the first quarter to put OCC up, 1-0.
On their next possession, Heyerly fed Soto, who found the back of the goal cage to put the Pirates up, 2-0. Goals by Barker and Clayfield capped off a 4-0 opening quarter for Coast and the Chargers were never able to threaten the rest of the way.
The Pirates led 6-2 at the half and despite scoring just two second-half goals, OCC netminder Amy Jensen kept the Chargers at bay with 12 saves, including a nice point-blank stop on a six-on-five scoring chance early in the third quarter.
The Pirates will return to action on Wednesday at Riverside City College, beginning at 3 p.m. OCC's final home match of the year with be on Wednesday, Oct. 28 against Golden West, also at 3 p.m.
