Agoura girls win two CIF water polo playoff games

The Agoura girls’ water polo team won its first two California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) playoff games, first beating Santa Ynez easily, 24-0, and then getting past Ventura, 5-2, in a defensive thriller played in Ventura.

Hawley Shapiro, a junior who played JV most of the season (where she was the Chargers’ leading scorer), had seven goals—one shy of the Agoura school record—in the win at home vs. Santa Ynez.

"I thought she got herself in good position today," said Agoura coach Jason Rosenthal regarding Shapiro. "That’s the future for us next year. She basically replaces Lindsay Llewellyn."

Ashley Coleman, a senior, scored four goals vs. Santa Ynez. Amy Antonsen, a junior, and Stephanie Sears, a senior, had three, Llewellyn, a senior, and Megan Corso, a freshman, scored twice, while contributing one goal apiece were Amanda Fehoko, a junior, Elisabeth Foitle, a senior, and Rachel Trumbauer, a junior (also called up after the JV season).

Rosenthal, who was at the helm when the Chargers won a CIF title two years ago, said changes in strategy aren’t uncommon when the payoffs commence.

"We try to really pick up the defensive intensity," he said. "We try not to make as many mistakes as we make during the regular season. Our focus is to go one game at a time, get through that game, then worry about the next game. Our goal is to win it all, but you have to win each game as we go."

Agoura is seeded second in its division behind Santa Barbara.

"We didn’t know too much about Santa Ynez, so the girls were actually very nervous for this game," Rosenthal said. The coach said he prepares his team as if every game is the championship.

"We play every game like it’s the title game," he said. "I told them in the huddle, ‘We’ve got to win this one.’ It gives them something to shoot for. Even if we think we can beat a team, you’ve got to play like it’s the title game and go out and play the best you can."

Nika Bagheri, a senior, was sick and didn’t play vs. Santa Ynez while senior goalie Cassandra Ojeda, as well as Coleman were still fighting illnesses but played.

"The girls said, ‘Let’s go for the shutout,’ and we did," Rosenthal said. "We stepped up the defense."

Rosenthal compared this team to the one that won the championship two years ago.

"I think we’re pretty similar," he said. "That group, the whole desire all year, was to win CIF. This team might be even a little more well-rounded around the outside. We’re not looking to go into our hole-set every single time. We have more of a total team."

Was he surprised by the offensive outburst by Shapiro?

"I didn’t know how much the JV kids were going to play," Rosenthal said. "She got in and kept doing well, so I left her in there and she had a couple of nice moves, and the ball bounced her way a couple of times."

Shapiro utilized a nifty backhanded shot to score two of the goals.

In improving to 23-6 two days after the Santa Ynez win, the Chargers were led by Coleman’s two goals in the 5-2 victory over Ventura. Megan O’Linn, a junior, scored one goal, as did Llewellyn and Antonsen.

Nine of Agoura’s 15 players on the playoff roster are seniors.

"It’s very important for the seniors to step up now and say, ‘Hey, let’s get our act together. Let’s focus on what we have to do,’" Rosenthal said about the CIF playoffs and senior leadership. "And the younger kids just feed right off it. It’s good to have."