By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
Whenever her team needed her, goalie Rachel Dean was there to save the day for the Palisades High girls water polo team in Monday’s Western League opener at Venice.
Dean made eight saves, including four from point-blank range, and added five steals in the Dolphins’ 10-7 victory. Despite spending the first half defending goal while standing up, she thwarted several Gondos attacks to keep Palisades in front.
Photo: Steve Galluzzo
“It was a lot tougher than I expected, especially because we only play two teams (Venice and LACES) that have shallow ends like this,” said Dean, who was a field player as a freshman before trying the goalie position in practice. “It’s really easy to slip but I just try to cut down the angles.”
As she did in the Dolphins’ season opener against El Camino Real, Dean stopped two five-meter shots with her uncanny ability to anticipate which corner the opposing shooter picks.
“As soon as they lift the ball up I lean one way to try to bait them to go to the open side,” Dean said. “Sometimes it works.”
Bolstered by the return of co-captain Genesis Carballo, who missed the team’s first game, the Dolphins opened a 7-2 halftime lead on three goals by Yasmin Ansari, two by Jenny Garcia and one each by Elli Blake and Lily Ramos.
However, the host Gondos pulled to within three goals after three quarters and cut their deficit to 8-6 early in the fourth before late goals by Jackie Au and Blake sealed the win.
Yesterday’s league contest against San Pedro has been postponed until Jan. 15 and Palisades coach Courtney McElrath is trying to schedule a nonleague game Jan. 22 against Mission Hills Alemany.
The Dolphins open this weekend’s Holiday in the Hills Tournament against San Dimas on Friday afternoon at Chino Hills High.
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