The Newberg Graphic Online

Newberg girls squeak by Southridge, 7-5

Sisters Keilani and Pammela Ladrini miss game with illness

• By: Frank Graham  
• Published: 10/22/2009 10:25:30 AM

   The Tigers faced the Southridge Skyhawks at home Tuesday without the presence of two of their best players as Keilani and Pammela Ladrini were absent due to illness.
   But that didn’t prevent the Tigers from playing their punishing brand of water polo and defeating Southridge 7-5.
   “It was good competition,” said Jim McMaster, head coach. “We were missing two starters, but we expect more of that during flu season.”
   McMaster said the girls rose to the challenge and did what was necessary to beat the Skyhawks.
   Jamie Hockema had four goals, a steal and had three earned ejections. Alysha Bush, Clara Pugsley and Cassie Beecher each scored one goal apiece. Kindra Fish, Bush and Alexis Vargas had one assist each and goalkeeper Meghan O’Halloran blocked 15 shots.
   The girls are coming off a weekend tournament in Modesto, Calif., where they played five highly competitive teams and finished 18th out of 32 in their bracket.
   The Tigers began the tournament facing Clovis and ran into a buzz saw. In spite of O’Halloran blocking eight Clovis goal attempts, they did manage to score six to Newberg’s five.
   The game was close and the teams played to a draw the first two periods ending 2-2 at the half. Clovis rallied with three goals in the third, but Newberg couldn’t find the net. The Tigers finally scored three in the fourth, but Clovis scored again to earn the victory.
   The Tigers next faced Mercek and won handily, 13-6, due partly to seven goals from Pammela Ladrini and four from her sister, Keilani. Hockema scored two goals in the contest.
   Newberg jumped out in front 7-1 in the first period and never relinquished the lead.
   The team then defeated Los Banos 6-1 and dispatched St. Mary’s from Stockton Calif. 6-4.
   The Tigers faced a familiar foe in the final, Marin County Catholic, a team they dominated during the Newberg Invitational Tournament in September.
   But Marin County jumped to a 4-1 lead in the first quarter and Newberg could not catch up. They lost 13-5.
   McMaster said his team learned that there was more to water polo than they knew.
  “It was good for our girls,” McMaster said. “Now they see how much they need to strive to improve their level of play. We’ll come back and get better for the effort.”

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