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Girls Water Polo Beats George Ranch, Memorial on Their Way to the Playoffs

By Brian Minyard, 10/01/24, 8:10PM CDT

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One last full week for the Spartan Girls Water Polo Team before this year’s playoff push! The squad faced two tough District games this week and won both to secure Second Place in District and a great playoff seed. The girls began the week with a trip out to Richmond to face George Ranch and finished at home on Friday afternoon against Memorial, where they were able to complete the season sweep against our rivals to cap a highly competitive week!

 

vs. George Ranch

The Spartans opened the week in Richmond, clashing with a George Ranch team that played them tough earlier in District play. Hana Riley opened scoring early in the first quarter, converting on a picture-perfect assist from Elizabeth Conner, but George Ranch played tough and were only held back by some stellar defensive play by the Spartans, including an impressive shot block in the field by Molly Kate Minyard (to go along with multiple steals), tough play and forced turnovers in front of the net by Louisa Becerra, and fantastic play in the goal by Emmie Hanvey denying multiple shots. The Spartans found their rhythm in the second quarter, when Garcia scooped the rebound off Conner’s shot and found the net, followed by a rocket goal by Conner set up by a perfect Minyard assist, and capped by a long-range shot from Riley that left the George Ranch team stunned. Conner and Garcia teamed up again in the third for another goal, and the Spartans rode outstanding defense from Sarah Beth RoadyLeah Claire Nall, and Paige Buri to the victory.

Final – Stratford 6, George Ranch 3

 

vs. Memorial

On Friday afternoon the Spartans met the Mustangs for the return match-up in District play. Conner opened scoring almost immediately after the whistle, converting on a beautiful assist from Garcia, and the Spartans were off and running. Conner added three more goals in the first quarter (assisted by Riley and Garcia from the field and another from the penalty line), and Burke added one of the hardest-fought goals of the season from in front of the goal to see the Spartans lead 5-2 after the first quarter. The rest of the game was a defensive slugfest with a perfect shot from Garcia (off of a Conner pass), the only time the Spartans found the back of the net before time ran out. In the end, it didn’t matter as exceptional saves in the goal by Hanvey and field defense by the whole team – including a vital shot-block from the field by Minyard; steals galore by MinyardRoady, and Conner; and aggressive play by Nall and Charlotte Moore combined to secure the season sweep of Memorial!

Final – Stratford 6, Memorial 5

 

Next Up: The Spartans wrap up District play at the SBISD Natatorium against National #1 Richmond Foster on Tuesday (the 1st) at 5:30 pm. Come out and cheer on the Spartans! The Spartans will finish the regular season in Second Place in District behind Foster and look to make another deep run in the playoffs, which begin next week on October 7th or 8th (date and time TBD).