The girls water polo team defeated the Carlmont Scots 15-8 on Wednesday evening. M-A jumped out to a convincing lead in the first quarter and maintained their advantage throughout the game.
The Bears set an aggressive tone coming into the first quarter, establishing control early. Senior Mica Podoly opened with an explosive shot, followed shortly after by junior Sila Curic finding the back of the net with a goal of her own. Senior Harper Williams battled for possession to control the ball on offensive drives, while Carlmont struggled to score.
Following a miss by the Scots, the Bears caught Carlmont’s defense out of position, sinking an easy open-netter. M-A kept up the high press, with Williams executing a quick pass to Podoly, who hammered a shot past Carlmont’s goalkeeper. The Bears maintained their offensive pressure, closing the quarter with a 5-0 lead.
“We went into the game like we wanted to go out hard, and I think we achieved that in the first quarter,” Williams said.
In the second quarter, the Bears continued to find openings in Carlmont’s defense. Williams came close to extending M-A’s lead, but her shot struck the crossbar, and Podoly kept the attack alive by securing the rebound. The Bears sustained their offensive momentum while ensuring their defense closed in quickly on transitions to prevent counterattacks.
Sophomore Avery Moeller and junior Tara Azadpour added another two goals, extending M-A’s lead. Meanwhile, the Bears’ defense worked to press Carlmont and disrupt their offensive possessions. Junior goalkeeper Fiona McGaraghan* blocked multiple attempts by the Scots, preventing Carlmont from gaining momentum. To end the quarter, M-A held a dominant 9-1 advantage.
“We did really well seeing and being aware of where we pass and who’s open throughout the pool,” Moeller said.
The Bears carried their lead into the third quarter, and a series of quick outlet passes off a miss by the Scots shifted M-A into a counterattack. Moeller fired a goal into the net, putting the Bears back on track, and junior Eden Sturt followed with two goals to extend M-A’s advantage to 12-1.
However, the Scots began to find opportunities of their own, increasing pressure on M-A’s defense and getting the ball past the Bears’ goalkeeper. Carlmont’s expanding attack showed that M-A could not afford to lose intensity. The quarter concluded with a decisive advantage for the Bears, 13-5.
“We really clicked together as a team, and we’ve been working together, and it’s just been flowing really, really well, and our communication was great,” Podoly said.
Carlmont continued to fight into the fourth quarter, scoring two goals and looking to narrow the gap. M-A worked to keep their lead intact, with McGaraghan recording a key save on a Carlmont attempt. Junior Grace Lobdell* regained possession for the Bears, shifting momentum back to M-A. However, a turnover allowed Carlmont to reclaim the ball.
Despite miscommunications, the Bears were able to turn the tide with a powerful score from Moeller. M-A’s defense persistently pushed Carlmont back through suffocating press-defense tactics, shutting down passing lanes and forcing turnovers to secure a 15-8 victory for M-A.
The Bears will face off against the Woodside Wildcats on Monday at 6 p.m.
*Fiona McGaraghan and Grace Lobdell are journalists for the M-A Chronicle.
