Norco beats Hillcrest to open playoffs

Gareth Pandy has coached a handful of strong girls water polo teams during his tenure at Norco High.

This year’s team has something different, Pandy believes.

“Norco is a smaller school and we don’t have the numbers like other schools in our league,” Pandy said. “But unlike some of the other teams I’ve had her, we have real depth this season. There are multiple players at different positions that can contribute.”

Annie Peak recorded 17 saves in the cage and Mikayla Nielsen scored a match-high four goals, as the Cougars cruised to an 11-2 victory over Hillcrest in a CIF Southern Section Division 4 firstround playoff match Tuesday afternoon.

It was the program’s second playoff win over the past eight years. Norco (16-8) will travel to Palos Verdes (17-12) on Thursday.

“We got in the pool much earlier this season and have been working on our swimming, our endurance and our skills,” Nielsen said of the difference between this season and previous ones. “We have come together as a team and hope to go far in CIF.”

Nielsen has been an amateur motocross superstar for several years, and she can get the job done in the pool, as well. Nielsen needed only 77 seconds to record her hat trick Tuesday, as she scored Norco’s first three goals of the match.

Norco extended its advantage to 5-0 by the end of the first period, as Peyton Vansant and Lily Helberg each added a goal.

The Cougars also got the job done defensively, making Hillcrest settle for shots from the perimeter while forcing a handful of turnovers.

Peak was solid inside the cage throughout the match, registering at least four saves in each of the four quarters.

“She is only a sophomore and has worked hard in the offseason to get to level she is now,” Pandy said of Peak. “Annie has really changed our program because of the new things we can do. Her improvement has been remarkable.”

Peak only allowed two goals, both in the third quarter when Norco already was leading 9-0 and Pandy had made some substitutions.

“I just try to stay focused and my desire to win kicks in,” said Peak, who also had two assists and two steals in the match. “I love water polo and have an extreme passion for this team. I want our team to leave the pool feeling like everyone has done their job. We’ve worked in the summer and in the fall, and that work is really paying off.”

Kirsten Knopf and Lola Hernandez scored two goals apiece for Norco, and Megan Shifflet scored on a penalty shot.