The Spartan Girls Water Polo Team wrapped up Tournament Season with a fantastic showing at the Clear Creek ISD Water Polo Tournament in League City and Friendswood. The team faced two strong teams on Friday followed by another two challenging opponents on Saturday, finishing 3-1 for the weekend. The beginning of a busy week saw the Spartans sweep perennial rival St. Agnes Academy at the Strake Jesuit Pool.

JV

vs. St. Agnes Academy

The JV squad was first in the pool after a customary summer afternoon weather delay. Audrey Bown opened scoring for the Spartans, taking matters into her own hands for a beautiful lob goal. She hooked up with Piper Barrow to assist Paige Buri for a second Spartan goal as time expired in the first. The Spartans came out strong in the second quarter with Charlotte Moore winning the sprint, but St. Agnes put together a run in the second despite great defensive pressure by Emma McLean and the rest of the team. A key steal from Claire Culbertson and Caroline Culbertson stopped St. Agnes’ momentum, and keeper Julia Cvetkovic was a wall to keep the score tied at the half. The Spartans roared back in the third, building their lead with Luisa Becerra scoring off a perfect pass from Jill Hyland, Bown scoring again with help from Buri, and Bella Smith stripping the ball and finding Becerra for the goal. Strong defense from Abby Middlebrooks stopped a fast-break that threatened to let St. Agnes back on the scoreboard. Kate Homer forced a turnover and found Becerra for one more goal to put the game away.

Final – Stratford 6, St. Agnes 3

VARSITY

vs. St. Agnes Academy

Varsity took the pool next and spotted St. Agnes a two-goal lead. Elizabeth Conner answered for the Spartans with three unanswered goals, assisted by Hana Riley and Sarah Beth Roady. Goals from Avery Garcia (assisted by Conner) and Elle Burke (assisted by Buri) preserved the Spartan lead going into half. The third quarter was all Spartans – Conner found the net first, assisted by Molly Kate Minyard, and the pair reconnected thirty seconds later, this time with Minyard scoring. Roady made a perfect pass for Conner to finish off to keep the goals flowing. Keeper Emmie Hanvey shut down everything St. Agnes could throw at her and then got in on the offensive action with a length-of-the-pool assist to Minyard for a breakaway goal. Emily Pace found the net to cap the third quarter with an assist from Riley, who followed up with another assist – this time to Burke – to open the fourth. Conner finished off scoring with help from Buri as the Spartans coasted to the win.

Final – Stratford 12, St. Agnes 8

vs. Jersey Village

The first game of the CCISD tournament was a nail-biter as the Spartans matched up against a familiar foe in Jersey Village. Riley started the game off strong with a long-range strike, then followed with a forceful drive capped by another goal to secure the lead. Garcia set up Conner beautifully as the buzzer sounded in the first. In the second, Burke finished off a perfect pass from Conner, and Conner did the same with Garcia assisting. The pair connected again, with Garcia scoring this time, for a 6-5 halftime lead. The third quarter saw Riley and Conner team up twice, with each scoring a goal, and Garcia connected with Pace, who found the back of the net to give the Spartans a 9-6 lead after three. Jersey Village fought their way back – despite unbelievable stops in the net by Hanvey – to tie the game with a minute left. Jersey Village was setting up for the last shot, but an amazing Conner steal and pass to a sprinting Burke for the goal with 15 seconds left sealed the win for the Spartans.

Final – Stratford 10, Jersey Village 9

vs. Davenport

Later that afternoon, the team faced Central Texas power Davenport. The Spartans lit up the scoreboard first with Minyard setting Conner up to find the back of the net. The two connected again, and Conner added her third off a steal to keep the match even after the first quarter. The Spartans pulled away in the second with Minyard assisting Conner again, Becerra scoring a strong goal off a Minyard assist, Minyard finding the back of the net with help from Garcia, and Minyard finding Conner for the score one more time for a 7-4 halftime lead. Minyard finished off another pool-length pass from keeper Hanvey to open the second half, and Conner notched a goal with a strong follow-up off her own rebound and another set up by a perfect Roady pass. LC Nall put the ball in a perfect position for Riley to finish for one more score in the final minute of the third. Davenport cranked up the pressure in the fourth quarter, but the Spartans held tough, with Pace making a tough steal in front of the goal to stop Davenport’s last real threat.

Final – Stratford 11, Davenport 8

vs. Cypress Ranch

The Spartans came back on Saturday afternoon for a rematch against an impressive Cypress Ranch team. The result mirrored their meeting earlier in the season. Pace made a strong move to finish Roady’s pass and find the back of the net, and Riley scored off a half-court strike, but the Spartans struggled to generate more offense. Tough defense, including Smith helping in goal and featuring great effort in the field by Hyland, Moore, Buri, both Culbertsons, and Middlebrooks, kept the game close until the final quarter, when Cy Ranch pulled away.

Final – Stratford 2, Cypress Ranch 19

vs. Clear Brook

The last game of the Tournament was against host Clear Brook, and the Spartans came out looking to make a statement. The Spartans opened scoring early with Pace finishing off Conner’s perfect pass and Conner finding the back of the net after being set up by Garcia. Riley assisted Becerra for a goal, and Conner and Garcia connected twice more to see the Spartans up 5-0 at the half. Conner added one more after swiping the ball from Clear Brook, and Minyard fed a perfect pass for Pace to finish off. Strong defense from the team (including pressure from Barrow and Bown forcing turnovers) and great plays by keepers Hanvey and Smith combined to blank Clear Brook until the end of the third quarter, but they never threatened the Spartans as Roady secured a rebound and finished with a strong goal and then found Becerra for the final score with seconds remaining.

Final – Stratford 9, Clear Brook 4

Next Up: Coming off their big five-win week, the Spartans get a hard-earned breather this week ahead of a pair games on Saturday (September 7th), when they host Bridgeland (9:40 am) and Cypress Ranch (1:00 pm) at the SBISD Natatorium.