Buhach Colony girls win thriller in OT to punch their ticket to water polo section finals
Buhach Colony High School goalie Abigail Perez scored the game-winning goal in sudden victory overtime from long distance for a thrilling 10-9 win over No. 2 Del Oro to send the third-seeded Thunder girls water polo team into the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II championship game.
Buhach Colony (23-6) will face No. 1 seed Woodcreek at the Roseville Aquatic Center on Saturday in the championship game at 2:30 p.m. Woodcreek defeated No. 4 El Capitan 13-8 in the other semifinal on Tuesday.
The Thunder overcame an 7-5 deficit in the second half to force overtime.
“Defense is our strength and we adjusted very well to slow down a high scoring Del Oro team,” said Buhach Colony coach A.J. Abril. “The team defense was what shifted the momentum and put us in a position to catch up.”
Sophia Ayala helped lead the Thunder defense with five steals. Emma Ayala added four steals. Perez finished with 15 saves and seven steals in the cage.
Offensively, Macie Drum (five goals) and Kyley Abril (four goals) shouldered the scoring load.
However, Abril was called for her third ejection in overtime and sidelined the rest of the game.
“Someone had to fill in those shoes offensively because they were not going to let Macie touch the ball,” A.J. Abril said.
After the game was tied 9-9 after two overtimes, A.J. Abril drew up a play to start the sudden-victory period.
The play called for Drum to win the sprint to start the period and then pass the ball to Perez.
“Abby swam the ball up the pool, shot the ball from half and it was the perfect shot,” A.J. Abril said. “It was something she has spent hours practicing.”
Perez’s goal set off a wild celebration for the Thunder, who are making their first section championship game appearance.
“Great game,” A.J. Abril said. “One for the books.”
