Pali High Water Polo Tops Gondos on Senior Night

Moments after his team gave up the tying goal, Palisades High girls water polo coach Kevin Basurto called his last timeout to draw up a play with 12 seconds left in the Dolphins’ regular season finale February 5 at Venice.

Lilli Fox told him she wanted the ball and when play resumed the senior hole setter caught a pass 12 meters from the net and looked for an opening. Despite having a defender in her face, Fox cocked and fired  with three seconds to go and the ball deflected off the goalie’s arm into the cage to lift Palisades to a 10-9 triumph over the Gondos and give the Dolphins a reason to celebrate Senior Night.

“In the shallow end the goalie  has the advantage so I was trying to aim it as far away from her as I could,” said Fox, who had the hot hand all game and ended up with five goals. “The plan was to make sure it’s on target—either that or draw a penalty.”

Fox converted on a five-meter opportunity in the first period and added three goals in the third (two on breakaways). The Dolphins’ other four seniors contributed too. Kylie Lupescu tallied four goals, Paulina Garcia played stifling defense and Triana Paris and Corinna Frankel made critical saves in goal. Palisades is seeded No. 3 in the City Open Division playoffs.

“What I’m going to miss most is the friendships I’ve made,” Fox said. “We’re a tight-knit team. We all love each other.”