Varsity girls water polo loses to Santa Clara on senior night

Senior+and+co-captain+Yasemin+Narin+embraces+coach+Allie+Lamb+after+the+senior+night+proceedings+that+preceded+the+game.

Rose Guan

Senior and co-captain Yasemin Narin embraces coach Allie Lamb after the senior night proceedings that preceded the game.

Varsity girls water polo lost 11-12 to the Santa Clara High School Bruins in their last league home game yesterday evening, after their senior night ceremonies at 6:30.

Each team had scored four points at halftime and ten points by the end of the fourth quarter, leading to two three-minute periods of overtime. At the end of the first overtime period the Eagles were leading 11-10 but the Bruins scored another goal in the second overtime period, so a third period of sudden death overtime was added.

“The fact that we were able to come back is really amazing,” player Meghana Karinthi (10) said, referencing the Eagles’ 12-4 loss to Santa Clara on Oct. 1. “I think we played the best we’ve ever played all season. We’ve never had a game that was this close before.”

Before the game, the team honored seniors Helena Dworak and Yasemin Narin with bouquets of roses and plaques signed by their teammates.

Helena is co-team captain and has been the starting goalie since her sophomore year, with 147 blocks this season before the game and 162 after, while Yasemin, the other captain, has scored 14 goals, 18 assists and 11 steals this season.

Yasemin spoke about the team’s game-time performance.

“I don’t feel [the] least bit sad that we lost at all. I’m actually really glad that we did this well,” she said. “We were tied with them pretty much throughout the whole game and we went into double overtime, so I’m just really proud of the whole entire team.”

Head girls water polo coach Allie Lamb expressed pride in how the team played as well as disappointment about the seniors’ departure at the end of the year.

“We’re losing a lot next year even though it’s only two girls, and it’s exciting to go watch them get to play their last few games,” Lamb said. “It was a good senior night overall; I think winning would have been better but [the team] should definitely be proud of what they have accomplished.”

Santa Clara girls’ water polo coach Aja Bumbaca also voiced her opinions on the game.

It was high intensity from the get. I knew Harker was going to come out ready to go,” she said. “Everyone played well on both sides, so I’m happy about it.”

At 4:30, the varsity boys’ team celebrated three seniors, Zeyad El-Arabaty, Edward Sheu and Johnny Trinh, and proceeded to defeat Santa Clara 15-4.

The loss brings the girls to 1-10 in the league and the Bruins to 5-3.

The team made colorful posters celebrating co-captains Helena Dworak, the team's starting goalie, and Yasemin Narin, a field player.
Rose Guan
The team made colorful posters celebrating co-captains Helena Dworak, the team’s starting goalie, and Yasemin Narin, a field player.