The Spartan Girls Water Polo Team began their 2024 Playoff Run with a jam-packed week of action, finishing the week as Area Champions for the second year running! The squad faced off against a tough Langham Creek team in the Bi-District round and then traveled to Sugar Land to match up with Fort Bend Austin. The Spartans face Bridgeland in the Regional Quarterfinals this Tuesday (the 15th) at 5:00 pm at the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Natatorium.

vs. Langham Creek

The first round (Bi-District) of the Playoffs saw the Spartans in the CFISD pool against Langham Creek. It took the team a little while to find their post-season footing, but once Elizabeth Conner opened scoring in the first quarter (finishing off a perfect set-up from Hana Riley), they never looked back. Conner followed her first goal in the quarter with two more (teaming up with Avery Garcia and Riley again) to give the Spartans a three-goal advantage headed into the second. Conner added four(!) more goals in the second (with assists from Elle Burke and Molly Kate Minyard) and Garcia added a goal of her own by cleaning up the rebound from a Minyard attempt to see the Spartans up 8-0 at the half.

In the second half, the goals just kept coming, with Riley firing in two quick scores as the half began and Conner striking again, this time after a beautiful assist from Audrey Bown. Tough defensive plays by Jill Hyland and Piper Barrow kept Langham Creek off the board through three. Keeper Emmie Hanvey took time away from making amazing saves in the net to find a streaking Minyard for a breakaway goal to start the fourth quarter. Riley hit the back of the net again with help from Leah Claire Nall, and Garcia scooped up her own rebound to finish off Spartan scoring. Langham Creek tried to pull together some offense with several runs in the second half of the match, but they were kept in check by a suffocating defense thanks to Charlotte Moore, Emily Pace, Bella Smith, and Luisa Becerra. A dominating first round performance set the Spartans up to continue their playoff progress!

Final – Stratford 14, Langham Creek 3

vs. Fort Bend Austin

On Thursday evening, the Spartans traveled to Sugar Land for the Area Round against District 18 Champions Fort Bend Austin. Fort Bend scored on their opening possession, but that wasn’t enough to rattle the Spartans. In quick response, Hanvey fired a long pass that Minyard put into the net, and the Spartans were off. Conner found the goal to finish off a Garcia assist, and Burke did the same shortly thereafter. Riley took advantage of Austin giving her too much space and rifled one in from long-range to give the Spartans a 4-2 lead after one. Burke opened scoring in the second by grabbing a rebound and forcing the ball across the line, and Minyard made Austin pay for going a player down with a lightning-bolt of shot set up by Conner. Minyard scored again as time ran down in the first half after a perfect setup by Pace – giving the Spartans a 7-2 halftime lead.

Austin made a run to start the second half, but Minyard found Conner opened for the score to give the girls an 8-4 lead headed into the fourth. Austin mounted several more charges in the final period, but Hanvey made save after save and Riley (with help from Garcia) and Garcia (with help from Conner) kept the Spartans in front. Some great last-quarter defense from Smith, Hanvey, and Minyard secured the Area Championship!

Final – Stratford 1, Fort Bend Austin 6

Next Up: The Spartans continue their Playoff Run in the Regional Quarterfinals at the CFISD Natatorium against Bridgeland this Tuesday evening (the 15th) at 5:00 pm – come out and support the Spartans!