El Capitan scores late to win overtime thriller against Buhach Colony, teams share title
Kiryn Wicker found herself in the position every high school athletes dreams about. The ball in her hand, just seconds left on the clock and a shot to win the game.
The El Capitan High junior was ready for the moment.
Wicker fired a 5-meter penalty shot into the back of the net to give the Gauchos girls water polo team a lead with 18 seconds left in overtime and they held on to defeat Buhach Colony 9-8 on Tuesday evening in a game worthy of a Central California Conference championship.
El Capitan’s victory means the Gauchos and Thunder will finish tied atop the CCC standings at 11-1 and will share the conference championship after splitting two league games.
“It feels good,” Wicker said. “All the hard work we put in, all that time in the weight room, those three-hour practices, it all paid off.”
The game was close from start to finish with neither team holding more than a two-goal lead throughout.
“That was an all-out war,” said Buhach Colony coach A.J. Abril, whose team finished the regular season with a 20-6 record. “Every quarter was a battle and it came down to overtime. It was a close game throughout. I have a lot of respect for coach Kristie (Dunham) and their program. This was the best teams going at it.”
The Thunder were led by Abril’s daughter Kyley Abril, who scored three goals, including two shots from the perimeter. Eliza Marquez added a pair of goals.
Buhach Colony’s Sophia Ayala scored to tie the game at 8-8 with 37 seconds left in the second overtime.
However, the Thunder were called for a penalty to set up Wicker’s game-winner just moment later.
“I usually am the one to take all the 5-meters, but on this one, ‘I was like are you sure you want me to take it?’ I was very nervous,” Wicker said. “Then when I shot it, it was the best feeling in the world. I saw it go in the net and then I heard everyone cheer. That’s the best feeling.”
“That’s a high-pressure shot and she nailed it,” Dunham added. “That’s her experience and all the time she’s put in.”
Wicker led the Gauchos (24-5 overall) were led by Wicker’s four goals. Anali Sebastian added two goals and goalie Caitlin Battle Edwards finished with nine saves.
Buhach Colony won the coin toss following the match to determine the CCC’s top seed for the playoffs, which will begin next week.
Boys Water Polo
El Capitan 17, Buhach Colony 12 — Ryan Smith scored seven goals as the El Capitan boys wrapped up an undefeated run to a CCC championship for the second consecutive season.
The Gauchos finish 12-0 in the CCC.
The Thunder finished 10-2 in conference play.
Rob Carpenter added four goals for El Capitan and Cooper Thomas dished out eight assists.
“It’s big for the guys to know their talent level, where they rank — not just in league but against other teams they play,” said El Capitan first-year coach Evan Spiva. “It’s important for them to go undefeated in league because it’s tradition for them.”
Buhach Colony kept the game close after losing 15-2 to the Gauchos in their first CCC game on Sept. 29. El Capitan led 12-10 after three quarters before pulling away in the final quarter.
“It’s kind of what we expected,” Spiva said. “It was similar to our game against Merced last week, which was closer than our first game against them. We definitely expected a lot of growth from Buhach Colony and props to them because they came out hard.”
Both teams will open up in the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs next week.
