While Freedom High girls varsity water polo coaches weren’t in love with the process, they’re happy with the result of Monday’s game – a 7-3 win over Heritage in their home pool.

Falcon head coach Lindsay Bell said that despite the victory, she saw a team that looked sloppy and unlike the team that has compiled a 6-2 record this season (3-0 in Bay Valley Athletic League play).

“There was a lot that we did well – there was a lot that we could’ve done a whole lot better,” Bell said. “We didn’t play the way we normally do. We slacked off a lot. It just almost seemed like it wasn’t our team out there.”

Down 2-1 in the second quarter, Freedom tied it up on a goal by Anna Carter. In the third quarter, senior Taylor Henry scored two more goals to give the Falcons a 4-2 lead. From there, Freedom simply took control of the scoreboard. Carter added another goal in the fourth quarter.

The Patriots responded with a goal by sophomore Caitlin Cook, cutting the lead to 5-3. Cook netted two goals on Monday after junior Caitlyn Freeman scoring the first of the game. Cook, Freeman and goalie Caitlin Bronzan have been the team’s three key leaders this season.

The Falcons scored twice more on goals by Henry and Linda McMahon, holding on for the 7-3 final.

Heritage head coach Carol Bronzan said she was happy with the progress her team made. The loss dropped the Patriots to 2-4 overall and 2-2 in BVAL play. Bronzan said that this was probably one of the better efforts she’s seen so far this season: “We have a very young team and they played like a more experienced team. It’s been a little sporadic. Some days we play like an experienced team, like today, and some days their inexperience shows through.”

In the junior varsity game that afternoon, Heritage came out on top, 6-2.

Boys: Heritage 17, Freedom 3

The Heritage boys varsity water polo team jumped out to a 10-1 lead at halftime on Monday, holding on for a 17-3 win.

Junior Carter Haynes scored five goals for the Patriots, senior Kurt Holzmuller netted four more and senior Travis West contributed three assists. Junior goalie Ty Elder was credited with 10 saves.

So far this season, Heritage is 5-5 overall; 3-1 against BVAL opponents.

“We went out, executed our game plan, and they stayed consistent throughout the entire game,” said Patriot head coach Derek Perkins. “We’ve been playing really well this year. … They’ve had a lot of hard-fought battles, in and out, every week.”

Freedom head coach George Petko said this match was a learning experience for the Falcons, who feature six underclassmen and just one senior – goalie Dalton Weger – on their varsity roster. “We lost a lot last year,” said Petko, “so this year’s going to be our point to rebuild for our younger kids.”

Sophomore Zack Oetken scored Freedom’s first goal, junior Galvin Dorn notched the second, and freshman Cameron Ott-Bales the third.

The Patriots’ boys junior varsity team came out on top in its game, too, beating the Falcons 9-2.