Bi-District Play-Off vs. Langham Creek 10/11 @CFISD Natatorium

The game got off to a slow start after a nearly 30-minute wait for referees with Langham Creek on the scoreboard first; in the early minutes Stratford shots ended up just short. Junior Emma Jackson played heads-up defense with multiple forced turnovers, sophomore Avery Garcia got in on the action with an interception that made it to senior Ashley Cardin who swam it down and scored. The Lobos answered with a goal and the quarter ended with Stratford down 1 – 2. Garcia started off the second with a nice steal. Good ball movement from sophomores Hana Riley and Sarah Beth Roady. Senior co-captain Ashley Cooper -- OK’d to play a partial game due to a recovering shoulder injury – found the rhythm with a sweet pass to the other Ashley for Cardin’s second goal of the game and a 2-2  tie. Senior Gwendolyn  Beach and Jackson dominated on the defense. Senior co-captain Caroline Smith continued to fiercely protect her goal with jaw-dropping saves. Junior Lily Askounis got the ball in the hands of freshman Elizabeth Conner at the wing – goal! – putting the Spartans up for the first time in the game 3-2.

The second half was a balance of strong defense and solid offense. Emma Jackson swam in the ball to go head-to-head with the Lobo goalie..wait for it..Goal! 4-2. Despite the Spartans playing with tenacity and hustle, Langham Creek came back with two quick goals. It was 4-4 end of the third. The Spartans proved in the 4th quarter of this single-elimination tournament that they wanted to keep playing. Elizabeth Conner showed her strength with a nice corner shot for her second goal of the game. 5-4 And, after a series of spectacular goalie Smith saves, the Spartans forced a penalty and Beach scored on a 5-meter penalty shot. 6-4 It was rough and tumble in the pool with Langham, but the Spartans gave it all they had. The final goal came with a pop-in from Ashley Cooper, assist going to Conner. Caroline Smith was stunning in goal with 18 monster blocks and fingertip saves – thwarting the offensive maneuvers of the Lobos – allowing no goals in the 4th quarter.

Final score Stratford 7, Langham Creek 5

Area Playoff vs. Westside @ SBISD’s WW Emmons Nat 10/13

Just two days later, the Spartan girls were playing for Area bragging rights against Westside High School. It looked like the Spartans would swim away with an easy win, but the Wolves weren’t going down without a good show. The Spartans demonstrated their ball-handling skills early in the first going around the horn with Gwendolyn Beach scoring from outside. 1-0 Heads-up play on both ends: Ashley Cardin, Emma Jackson, Lily Askounis, Ashley Cooper, Avery Garcia, Hana Riley, Elizabeth Conner, and Beach. Gwen got her second goal of the game on a 5-meter penalty shot. 2-1 Stratford. Avery Garcia took the ball all the way down swimming in for a nice inside goal. 3-1 Then Jackson fed the ball to Askounis inside – goal! It was 4-1 end of the first. Sarah Beth Roady joined play in the second and contributed tough defense. Beach got a hat trick scoring off her own rebound after a solid cross-court pass from Jackson, but Gwen wasn’t done scoring for the day. Ashley Cooper forced a penalty and gave the ball to Beach for a solid 5-meter goal and a hat trick plus 1 assist. 6-1 Caroline Smith was consistently strong in goal with monster blocks in each period. Garcia, Riley, Jackson, and Roady stayed on the ball stealing and forcing turnovers. Second half loomed with lost opportunities and an awakening Wolf Pack offense. Two quick goals from Westside brought the score to 6-3. Jackson stayed tough making interceptions and steals that resulted in more scoring for the Spartans. Beach found Ashley Cardin across court for a nice Cardin goal. 7-3 Avery Garcia got her second goal of the game with a solid inside shot in the third. 8-3 The Spartan’s wheels got a little wobbly and the Wolves found their footing the second half of the second half. Diehard defense from Gwen Beach and Ashley Cooper and monster blocks by Caroline Smith couldn’t stop the Wolves momentum – 4-8, 5-8, 6-8, 7-8…tick, tick, tick. With about 90 seconds on the clock Emma Jackson forced a ball-under turnover giving Stratford possession. Tick, tick, tick…BUZZ! End of the game and the Spartans managed to hold on to their lead. Final (a nail-biting): Stratford 8, Westside 7

Area Champs! And more time in the tournament.

Next game – Regional Quarterfinals -- Tuesday, October 18 against Cy-Ranch at the CFISD Natatorium 12550 Windfern Rd 77064 It’s only 20 minutes away – come out and cheer on Stratford Girls Water Polo Team with Coaches Albers, Brisbin and Duncan!