Lady Jaguars clinch Valley League water polo title with undefeated season

With a pair of wins this week, the Valley Center varsity girls water polo team posted an undefeated season in the Valley League and clinched the league championship.
The Lady Jaguars earned the No. 6 seed in the CIF Division III playoffs, which means they will play against Santa Fe Christian at Westview High School on Thursday at 4 p.m.
To clinch the league title, the Lady Jags defeated Canyon Crest last Tuesday, then finished off the undefeated league season with a big win over Del Norte on Thursday.
On Tuesday, the Lady Jags played a steady, consistent game to take a 9–4 win over Canyon Crest.
The Lady Jaguars had a slower start in this game against the Lady Ravens than they did in the first meeting, but still managed to take a 3–1 lead after the first quarter. Canyon Crest was able to score two in the second, allowing two for the Lady Jags, giving Valley Center a 5–3 advantage at half.
The Lady Jaguars were only able to score one in the third, but held Canyon Crest scoreless to lead 6–3 entering the fourth. The Lady Jags were able to score two goals while only allowing one to hang on for the win.
“This was a tough game for the girls against an improved Canyon Crest team,” head coach Kyle Kline said. “We missed some opportunities and were playing with some sick girls but they battled through to earn a league title.”
Maddy Daugherty had a big game with five goals, six steals, and one exclusion. Carina Favela had two goals, two steals. Makayla Markey was playing sick, but still had one goal and two steals. Nicole Marler had five steals, one assist, and one block. Nikki Paredes playing sick had three steals. Sarah Mitchell had one assist. Dani Lettice had one assist. Danielle Moran played the first quarter in goal with three goal saves and two assists. Melissa Persichetti had five goal saves and two assists.
Valley Center took on its final opponent of the regular season on Thursday, and after taking a big early lead, the Lady Jaguars went on to beat Del Norte, 13–5, to seal the undefeated league season.
The Lady Jags had an outstanding start, taking a 6–1 lead in the first quarter. Del Norte came back in the second to score two, while allowing only one for the Lady Jags, giving Valley Center a 7–3 lead at half.
The Lady Jags picked it up a notch in the third, scoring three goals and allowing none, to lead 11–3 going into the fourth. Del Norte scored two goals in the fourth, but the Lady Jags put away three to cap the comfortable win.
“Going undefeated in league was a goal for the girls and it was great to see them set the goal, work hard and achieve it,” Kline said. “They played solid team defense in coming up with sixteen steals and were able to turn many of those into goals. Finishing off strong like this will give the girls momentum heading into the playoffs.”
Favela had a great game with six goals, one assist, six steals, and earned one exclusion. Daugherty had three goals, two assists, two steals, earned two exclusions, and converted on two penalty shots. Lettice had two goals, one steal, earned two exclusions, and earned one penalty shot. Marler had one goal, one steal, and a huge block. Paredes had one goal, one assist, two steals, and earned one exclusion. Mitchell had one steal and earned one penalty shot. Markey had one steal, earned one exclusion, and earned one penalty shot. Macy Morrison had one assist. Maggie McGlynn had one steal. Kaylee Hudson had one steal. Persichetti had eight goal saves and four assists.