Week after week, Concordia women’s water polo appears in the Courier, and as long as they keep making history, it’ll keep happening. The ladies have not only turned in their best record ever, but also won the conference championships for the first time in their Division II era.

On April 12, the ladies beat Biola by a score of 4-3 in the Western Water Polo Association championships. It was a hard-fought defensive battle and turned out to be their lowest scoring of the season. Their semifinal game against Cal State Monterey Bay, which ended up as a 7-3 win for Concordia, was their second-lowest scoring game of the season.

Conference Championship MVP, Jaden Soto commented on the mixed emotions to come with winning the championship. “Winning the conference for the first time in Division II is something that still hasn’t fully sunk in. It’s a mix of pride and validation; especially for the work this group has put in over the past year. We’ve had talented teams before, but this time it felt like everything finally came together at the right moment. To be part of something that sets a new standard for the program is honestly really special.”

“Honestly, our team bond: It’s like nothing else,” said senior attacker Kennedy Brubaker. “Last year we only had three returners, but this year we had a lot more experience, so we were able to welcome the new players and really build strong chemistry as a team.”

“Coming in as the new team in the conference was daunting, but we came in with big goals,” said sophomore center Sierrah Ferguson. “There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that we were gonna win through all the ups and downs that our season brought. Winning didn’t feel like a surprise, more like a deserved outcome.”

Ferguson scored one of their seven goals in the semi-final against Monterey Bay. First Team All-WWPA attacker and Freshman of the Year Mia Hueston added on two goals and an assist. Hueston also led the Golden Eagles in points in the championship game with a goal and an assist. 

Brubaker put in consistent performances throughout the tournament, with an assist in both the semi-final and the final despite the low-scoring contests.

“A big part of it was anticipating the clock and pushing the counterattack,” said Brubaker. “I was focused on finding the next open teammate and getting the highest-percentage shot possible.”

Each player on the roster from top to bottom was vital for the team, with 14 different players scoring points in the first round of the WWPA tournament. Sophomore attackers Munroe Blem and Cassady Woolley both contributed to the scoreline with two goals that game.

“I’m grateful for my coach giving me opportunities and my team for always cheering me on,” said Woolley. “Especially as someone who doesn’t get a lot of playing time. That really drives me to perform for my team and step up when I get the chance. I just jump in and give all I got!”

“Depth in skill set is something most teams can’t replicate,” said Ferguson. “It’s typical to have 1-3 star players that carry the stat board. However, as a team with such a diverse skill set, our second line is just as good as our first and third. Being able to trust that the next 6 girls in can carry out what the starting lineup set up is something most teams can’t do.”

The championship game was a battle of grit and determination, with only seven total goals being scored. Junior goalie Jaden Soto, who was named MVP of the match, finished with 11 saves. Soto was also named Ms. Defense for the team, along with First Team All-WWPA and All-Defensive First Team.

Sophomore center Lucy Aggs, who was named to the All-Defensive first team, was named by teammates as a key player in the conference championship win. She cites their cohesiveness as a key factor in being stout defensively. 

“We have been working on [communication], not just talking but also actively listening,” said Aggs. “It’s easier said than done. We used to be super quiet, so Jaden and I made it our goal to command the team, and with time, everyone has followed suit.”

“At a certain point in the game, it was a matter of which goalie failed first at tending their goal and Jaden came through with the mental toughness and endurance,” said avid CUI Women’s Water Polo fan Mikel Villarreal. He added that this was “the most fans at a women’s water polo game” and “important for the nest as a whole.”

Scoring was spread out in the championship game with Hueston recording a goal along with Amber Lewis, Emeline Smiley, and Munroe Blem. Hannah Edwards and Presley Acosta recorded assists along with Hueston and Brubaker. 

Second Team All-WWPA and sophomore attacker Anna Tyukasz was named MVP of their season by Head Coach Casey Greenawalt. 

Other award winners include an All-WWPA honorable mention for freshman utility Amber Lewis and All-Freshman Team for attacker Alexa De Villiers.

Following the win, Concordia qualified for the NCAA play-in game and competed against Wagner College on April 22l. The ladies are looking to make history again and make a deep run in the national tournament.

“Our goal going into this championship is to play our game,” said Ferguson. Simple as that. If we play to our full potential, only good will come out of it. 

“We have spent the past 17 weeks working so hard, so now it’s just time to put it all together,” said Aggs. “This team will never be the same again, so we want to be present and embrace every moment with the people around us. We are so lucky to have the opportunity, and we can’t take it for granted.”

Stay up to date with the team on Instagram @cuiwwp.

Tags: water polo, women's athletics

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About Joseph Panetta

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