OEC Race Wide Open

The 2025 women's water polo campaign has reached the halfway point and Orange Empire Conference (OEC) play is under way.  The race seems like it could be a photo finish, as a leader has yet to emerge.

Orange Coast, Fullerton, Golden West and Riverside City seem like the early favorites, with all of them laying claim to a tough non-conference schedule. 

Orange Coast is 8-5 on the season and defeated Fullerton, 10-6, to open Orange Empire Conference play last week.  The Pirates have played five of the top seven teams in the state rankings, going 3-2.  Orange Coast features the scoring duo of Hayden Clark (27 goals) and Finley Munchoff (26 goals), who have combined for 53 goals. Orange Coast is currently ranked No. 6 in the state in the latest CCCWPCA Rankings.

Golden West has started 9-3 and cruised past Cypress in its OEC opener, 22-6.  The Rustlers have played four games against teams ranked in the top four in the state rankings this season, including a 14-12 win against No. 4 Cuesta.  Golden West is led by freshman Sierra Abernathy, whose 44 goals are amongst the leaders in the state.  It doesn't end there for Golden West, as Mimi Versegi (35 goals), Hanna Menyhart (29 goals) and Sam O'Donnell (20 goals) all have 20-or-more goals on the season.

Fullerton has the best non-conference record, going 10-5 outside of OEC play. The Hornets are ranked No. 7 in the CCCWPCA Rankings and have played five games against programs ranked in the top 10, including two wins against No. 8 San Diego Miramar.  McKenna Dunning has been putting on a show, scoring 52 goals with 16 assists in 15 games.  Ava Spear (36 goals), Isabella Castaneda (31 goals) and Shayla Summers (21 goals) are also players to watch as the Hornets can beat you in a ton of ways.

Riverside City is 6-3 out of the gate and was all set to face Saddleback in the OEC opener last week before issues with the pool postponed the game.  The Tigers lost a tight match to Orange Coast at the OCC Tournament (14-13) earlier in the season and also had a tight loss to No. 2 Santa Barbara City at the RCC Tournament (14-11).  RCC has prolific scorers in Yosra Elseifi (39 goals) and Angelina Beall (30 goals), who have combined for 69 goals in only nine games.  The Tigers are ranked No. 5 in the state by the coaches.

Saddleback would seem to be a longer shot to contend for an OEC title as the Bobcats are a freshman dominated lineup.  Saddleback is 7-7 in non-conference play and has played a difficult schedule, playing seven times against teams ranked in the top 10 in the state.  Although they have yet to win one of those benchmark games, many of them have been tightly contested.  Saddleback has one of the better trios of scorers in the state in Sophia Banua (45 goals), Razann Kotarche (37 goals) and Carlota Pereira (30 goals). 

Cypress would seem to be the dark horse to contend in 2025 as the Chargers are 4-8 to start the season and lost 22-6 in the conference opener against Golden West last week.  Cypress played gamely in a 14-7 loss to No. 7 San Diego Miramar, but a smaller roster has made it a challenge.  Jillian Van Gemmert has scored 21 goals to lead the way so far, with six others scoring double-digits in goals.

Story by Brad Hoiseth, Saddleback College