With eight seniors among its 12 players, there is a sense of urgency swirling around the Los Altos High girls water polo team. The time to win is now, and the Eagles know it.
“This will be our best chance,” coach Travis Wyckoff said. “They’ve been together for awhile.”
The Eagles have been winning – they’re 11-9 overall and 3-0 in the SCVAL De Anza Division. But their biggest test is scheduled for 6 p.m. today as they host defending league champion Palo Alto.
“Palo Alto is still the top dog,” Wyckoff said. “To beat them, someone’s going to have to play their best game and Palo Alto is going to have to play their worst game.”
“We’d like to think we can play Paly pretty tough,” the team’s coach said.
Los Altos’ playoff hopes could hinge on it. To qualify for the postseason, Wyckoff said the Eagles will likely have to “win the league or be co-champions.”
Only 16 teams advance to CCS and about half of them will earn automatic bids for winning their respective leagues. That leaves few precious at-large berths for the section’s other deserving teams.
The Eagles finished 14-14 overall last year and placed fifth in the SCVAL De Anza Division.
Los Altos is on pace for a better season in 2004 – thanks to its wealth of experience.
Sarah Murray is Los Altos’ leading scorer and has “played really well,” Wyckoff said.
The Eagles count on seniors Kirsten Powers, Keven Chazan and Jennifer Scrivano for goals, along with sophomores Lauren Wyckoff (the coach’s daughter) and Megan Powers (Kirsten’s sister). Wyckoff scored twice in the win over Gunn.
The Eagles, who never trailed in the game, made five steals. They also received eight saves from senior Rachel McGillis, whom the coach calls “the best goalie in the league.”
