Water polo falls to Seabury 12-9
Photo by Kainoa Deguilmo
Lia Ikeda shoots the ball as Seabury’s Nanea Haynes reaches to block it on Tuesday, March 8, at Pi’ilani Aquatic Center.
The Maui Warriors water polo team fell to the Seabury Spartans, 12-9, today at Pi’ilani Aquatic Center. With this loss, the Warriors have fallen to 1-1 on the season.
Seabury’s goalie Nanea Haynes made crucial saves to keep the Spartans on top the entire game.
“I’m really, really happy with the way we played,” she said. “Both teams were very entertaining to watch from the goal, and it was anyone’s game.”
The game came close at times but the Spartans managed to stay on top.
“It really helps that we have fast swimmers,” Haynes said. “We had fast breakaways.”
Haynes’s saves were a major factor in the Spartans victory.
“I was kind of surprised,” Haynes said. “You never really know where the ball is going until they actually throw it.”
Spartans head coach Ryan Walsh was also pleased with the win.
“We’ve never beaten Kamehameha before,” he said. “It feels really good to beat a school with a strong athletic program, such as Kamehameha.”
He reflected on the Spartans’ performance, as they were able to maintain a steady lead throughout the whole game.
“No lead is safe, especially when you’re playing a team like Kamehameha,” he said. “I barely subbed. We had to keep in our strongest defense and best offense.”
Coach Walsh said he knew the Warriors were going to be tough to face throughout the game.
“They’ve got great players, like Quinn [Shiraishi],” he said. “She’s tough and was really a challenge for us.”
The Spartans will play Lahainaluna next.
“They’re the strongest team in the league, and we need to get all the work we can in,” he said. “But this win definitely gives us some momentum.”
Warriors head coach Allyn Kalaiwaa said that the Warriors have areas they need to work on.
“Seabury shut us down,” she said. “The defense definitely wasn’t strong this game, and it’s something we’re working on.”
Coach Kalaiwaa said that Seabury is a different team this year, and so are the Warriors.
“We just can’t take anybody lightly this season,” she said.
