By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
Last season the Palisades High girls water polo team needed a goal from Leighanne Estabrook with two seconds left in regulation before edging Granada Hills in the semifinals of the City Section playoffs.
The rematch was Monday back at Maggie Gilbert Aquatic Center, only this time the Dolphins showed just how good they can be when playing their best, scoring seven unanswered goals in the third quarter and coasting to a 15-4 victory.
Freshman Adelaide Saab scored the first two goals—the second on a five-meter shot—and finished with a team-high four. Estabrook added three, Julia Sansing had two and Maxine Eschger, Sydney Brouwer, Samantha Rene, Nicole Kim and Kavita Sekhon each added one for the top-seeded Dolphins, who advanced to their sixth final in seven years.
Top-seeded Palisades will try for its first City title against second-seeded Birmingham tonight at 6 at Valley College. The Dolphins’ previous five finals defeats were all to Eagle Rock—including last year’s 9-8 heartbreaker.
“I was scared out of my mind the night before—I couldn’t sleep and I couldn’t eat… but as soon as we pushed off to start the game I was fine,” Estabrook admitted. “Last year, Granada Hills made it a physical game but we had a better mentality this time and mainly we just ran drops on their best player, whether it was me, Julia or Addie, we always had her marked.”
Goalies Chloe Berrisford and Jessie Taft made big saves to frustrate the Highlanders as Palisades built a 7-1 halftime lead.
“Our movement was great today and we knew that would tired them out,” Pali High Coach Kirk Lazaruk said.”
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