Bree Gillis had three goals and Abby Pfefferlen and Cameryn Gillis both had two as the Sobrato girls water polo team easily took down Valley Christian 10-5 in its season opener.
The Bulldogs traded goals with the Warriors to start things off, but for the three subsequent quarters, it was all Sobrato.
After the game was tied through the first eight minutes of play, Sobrato outscored Valley 8-3 and out-shot the Warriors 20-9.
Coach David Burnett said it all started with defense.
“We tried to play really solid defense. That way if we get turnovers or get steals, we can get some easy goals,” Burnett said. “We tried to work Abby (Pfefferlen) in the set the position. If they’re (defending) then we try to get the ball to her and it leaves an open person and the shots fell better in the second half.”
Keeper Beth Funke only made six saves, allowing five goals on 11 shots, but the goals she allowed were more the result of a Warrior finding herself with an uncontested look at the cage.
Burnett also highlighted freshman Helena Batey, who had a solid game and a few good looks at the net.
“She followed a shot and almost got it the goal. It was a real nice play even though it didn’t work,” Burnett said.
When the defense forced the Warriors the other way without a shot, the Bulldog offense made the most of it.
Maddy Doutt got Sobrato on the board to start things off thanks to a counter attack for a quick 1-0 lead.
Bree followed on Sobrato’s next possession with a goal, putting the Bulldogs up 2-0 on just two shots on goal.
Valley Christian did have an answer later in the quarter when the Warriors found the back of the cage twice to make the game 2-2 going to the second quarter.
But the second quarter Sobrato started to pile on.
Bree had two more goals, including one on a deflection when she took a shot as the shotclock was about to expire. Her shot came in so hot, it skimmed off a defender’s hand and the Valley Christian keeper had no chance.
Pfefferlen had the goal of the quarter when she went after a rebound that hit off the crossbar. Valley Christian’s keeper couldn’t corral the rebound and found herself out of possession, leaving Pfefferlen an easy shot on goal.
Sobrato put the game away coming out of the halftime break thanks to nine shots on goal and scores by Cameryn and Amanda Jackson for a 7-3 lead going to the fourth.
In the fourth, Valley Christian came out firing with a quick goal, but Cameryn was there to end the threat quickly.
She scored her second goal of the half to make the game 8-4 and from there, Sobrato just had to bleed clock.
After the Warriors made the game 8-5, goals by Sesa Ferdun and Pfefferlen gave the Bulldogs their final margin of victory.
Sobrato will now have the rest of the week off before opening its own tournament on Sept. 18.
A previous version listed David Letts as the coach of the girls team. Letts is the coach of the boys water polo team. David Burnett is the coach of the girls. The Times regrets the error.
