The Sweet Home girls water polo team lost two games this week, playing opponents tight to the end of both games.
In the first game, at Lebanon Oct. 19, the girls lost 9-8.
“That was a game that went right down to the wire,” Coach Adam Lloyd said. The girls had a shot to tie but missed within the last 30 seconds.
“I think Lebanon, their girls are probably the most improved team we’ve seen,” Coach Lloyd said. The Huskies defeated them soundly the last time they faced off, and Lebanon looked much better this time around.
The game was the second of three road games last week, starting Monday. The Huskies played Lebanon late Tuesday evening followed by a road trip to Redmond on Friday.
The girls have been playing well, but they’ve struggled to finish games with their low numbers, Coach Lloyd said. Against both Lebanon and Redmond, the girls played right to the end.
Lebanon was a “tough game to lose,” Coach Lloyd said.
Scoring were Krystle Streight with four goals, Justine Calhoon with three and Nichole Martin with one.
Liz Andersen had 15 saves, Coach Lloyd said. “She’s really been stepping up, doing really well at the goal.”
The girls lost 5-2 against Redmond.
“That night we kind of lacked a little luster,” Coach Lloyd said. “I think that had a little to do with the week.”
Redmond jumped out to an early lead, but the Huskies contained Redmond later in the game.
The boys defeated Lebanon 14-2, Coach Lloyd said. Lebanon doesn’t have a full team, so the game counted as a forfeit.
“It was good for the guys to get in there and run our offense and see some success,” Coach Lloyd said. Sweet Home had the shutout going into the fourth quarter, but Lebanon managed to score two goals.
Even playing a game like that, with only eight players, “it’s never a gimme” for the Huskies, Coach Lloyd said.
Jeff Stratman led scoring with six goals. Ian Parks scored five; James Davis, two; and Jon Lemar, one.
The boys lost 10-2 to Redmond.
“Redmond is a big team,” Coach Lloyd said. “They’re fast, and they can shoot. They have a really good goalie. Basically, they outswam us.”
Toward the end of the game, the Huskies started slowing Redmond down, Coach Lloyd said.
District playoffs begin Friday morning, Coach Lloyd said. Pairings are not complete yet, but it looks like the girls will face Lebanon and the boys will play West Salem, with an outside chance of facing Redmond.
“We need to win these first games,” Coach Lloyd said. “The first game is elimination.”
To move on to state playoffs, each team needs to win one of the next two games.
“So we’re really concentrating on these two teams in the first round,” Coach Lloyd said.