Capistrano Valley Comes Up Big in Victory Over El Toro

In one of its biggest games of the season, it figured that Capistrano Valley’s top players would deliver the big plays in its South Coast League girls’ water polo showdown with El Toro.

UCLA-bound Amber Stachowski scored three goals, her sister Aimee made a momentum-swinging steal and goalie Meridith McColl made 10 saves as the Cougars, ranked third in the county, beat fourth-ranked El Toro, 5-4, Thursday at Saddleback College.

“We’re really pumped,” Amber Stachowski said. “This year, we have better teamwork. This group works well together.”

Last season, El Toro upset Capistrano Valley, thanks in part to Ke’ala Carter’s goal on a shot from near mid-pool.

Thursday, Carter was defended primarily by Amber Stachowski, who limited her to one goal, on a six-on-five with 20 seconds remaining to make the score 5-4. That goal broke a 17-minute 22-second scoreless span for El Toro.

Capistrano Valley (14-4-1) then ran out the clock and the Chargers (14-5) didn’t get another shot.

El Toro converted in only two of seven six-on-five situations, and McColl had six saves in the second half, knocking down the Chargers’ shots from the perimeter.

Goals by Clare Meadows and Amber Stachowski helped Capistrano Valley take a 2-1 lead early, but El Toro’s Katie Hedley had a goal and two assists in the second quarter to help the Chargers take a 3-2 lead at halftime.

Then the Stachowskis took over. Off a pass from her sister Aimee, Amber drew a four-meter penalty shot, then converted it to make the score 3-3 with 1:43 remaining in the third quarter.

Then Aimee made a steal and passed up the pool to her sister, who scored on the counterattack to make it 4-3 with 56 seconds remaining in the quarter.

Capistrano Valley’s Gigi Seuc added a goal off a counterattack with 3:59 remaining to make it 5-3.