Hancock Water Polo Hosts Citrus in Season's Final Home Game

The women's water polo team will host its final home game of the season this Wednesday, October 12, at 3 p.m. against Citrus College at the Paul Nelson Aquatic Center. The Bulldogs enter the week 7-12 overall and 0-3 in Western State Conference play.

Hancock opened play last week with a 9-6 conference loss at Cuesta. Freshman Meagan Coyne (Righetti HS) led the Bulldogs with three goals. The game was tied 6-6 with about five minutes to play. The Bulldogs then traveled to Ventura College to play four games in two days. Hancock went 2-0 on the first day of the tournament with a 10-7 win over San Diego Miramar and a 12-4 victory over Cypress. Shannon Copeland led the Bulldogs with three goals against Miramar. Coyne as well as sophomores Rebecca Gonzalez (Nipomo HS) and Nikki Gurgiolo (Righetti HS) had two goals apiece. Copeland scored a season-high 11 goals in the win over Cypress. Gurgiolo added two goals and two assists. The Bulldogs ended the weekend with a 14-9 loss to American River, despite three goals from Gonzalez, and a 19-10 loss to undefeated Santa Barbara. Copeland and Coyne scored three apiece for the Bulldogs against the Vaqueros.

Copeland is the team's leading scorer with 37 goals. Gonzalez has scored 34 times, collected 22 assists and recorded 33 steals. Coyne ranks third on the team with 28 goals to go with 17 assists and a team-high 39 steals. Clardy has 25 goals.

Citrus starts the week 1-2 in conference and 11-7 overall. Hancock lost 10-5 to Citrus earlier this season during a Riverside Tournament. Gonzalez led the team with two goals.  Following the home game, Hancock will travel south to play in a tournament hosted by Citrus College on Friday, October 14, and the following day.