Girls Water Polo: Bishop’s Knights triumph over La Jolla Vikings, 7-4

The Bishop’s School Knights 7, La Jolla High School Vikings 4

By Ed Piper

The Bishop’s School girls water polo team, while regaining their edge, also regained their dominance over arch rival La Jolla High, posting a convincing 7-4 win Jan. 30 in their home pool.

In a match marked by multitudinous shots on goal by both teams, Bishop’s Lady Knights avenged their first loss in 17 years to their cross-town foes three weeks ago by piling up a 6-1 lead just before halftime, then expanding it to 7-2 shortly before the end of the third quarter.

Three Knights swimmers scored a pair of goals apiece: Jill Bushman, Kayleigh Schultz and Sammie Barlow. Bushman scored the initial goal just 36 seconds into the match, and Bishop’s set the tone early before La Jolla could score its first goal. Natalie Grayson scored the remaining Bishop’s goal.

Barlow, a junior, said, “We definitely wanted it now. From the other time, we just wanted it more this time around.” She scored Bishop’s second and third goals within a stretch of one minute, 43 seconds spanning the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second, bringing the Knight’s lead to 3-0.

Schultz, a freshman who scored Bishop’s fourth and fifth goals within a span of 54 seconds midway through the second period, said, “I’m really excited we won, but I’m focusing on CIF right now.”

Scoring for the Vikings were Karli Canale and Sophia Delgado.

Why the different result from the Jan. 9 match? Bishop’s goalie Maddy Kafka-Asper offered: “When we lost the first game, it was a rude awakening. It was a blessing in disguise. Our motivation level increased. It felt totally different (today).”

Barlow described the play for her first goal: “I swim down the middle and go out (to the left side), and they throw me the ball and I’m right there, so I shoot it.”

She added, “We’ve actually done that play before in two other games, and we’ve not really tried it in a league game. So when I did it and I got it in, it was really amazing.”

Barlow, who likes biology and wants to work in zoology, said of her second goal: “Wedidawholeplaytogetmeupinonthe top side. Everyone moves out of the way, and the other team supposedly drops into the side. And then I walk it in straight (with no defender in front of me). That’s the first time I’ve ever got it (scored on that play).”

Kafka-Asper was humble and gave the credit to her team. But when asked directly what she felt pleased about in her own play, she commented, “I was pretty much packing (blocking) everything. I let in a few.”

The Vikings rounded out their core lineup with Scarlett Hallahan, Taylor Bertrand, Sarah Young, Lexi Atwell, and goalie Lauren Silver. Bishop’s Natalie Chun and Hannah Carrillo received heavy coverage by La Jolla.

■ Ahead:

La Jolla hosts Western League- leading Coronado at home, Feb. 6, then travels to Cathedral Catholic Feb. 13, to finish the regular season. Bishop’s hosted Cathedral Catholic Feb. 5, traveling to Coronado Feb. 13, for its league finale before CIF playoffs begin. All games are scheduled at 3:30 p.m.