Wrapping Up Winter Season & Spring Season Ahead!

Mid-Pen Water Polo Families,

It's a wrap! This weekend marked the conclusion of our Winter Season, and what a journey it has been. Massive applause to all our players for their dedication and hard work in the pool!

 

Coaches' Game Recap:

Before we dive into the exciting news about the upcoming Spring Season, let's take a moment to enjoy the coaches' recap of this weekend's games.

 

14U White—Coach Natasha

Game 1: Stanford Gold vs Midpen White

It always takes us a little while to find our footing during our first game. Offensively, we needed to make safer passes and move more. On the other hand, our defense was the highlight of the game, shutting down a couple of their counters and great shot-blocking.

A huge thank you to the 14 Blue players who showed up early so we had enough players to start the game! 

Game 2: Marin vs Midpen White 

Back-to-back games are always challenging, but our players did better in this game. I don't know what clicked, but our offense was leagues better! The communication was there, and it showed through safe passes, leading to great offensive plays, even ending in a couple of goals! They were stronger swimmers, so getting back on defense took a little adapting, but we got there. 

Overall, our 14u White team improved significantly this season, especially considering the number of 12u and new players we had going up against experienced 14u players! I appreciate our players for putting their all into every game and look forward to the seasons ahead!

 

14U Blue—Coach Steven

Game 1: 5-14 Loss to West Valley

A slow start with early mistakes meant we had much ground to make up. Overall, the West Valley team was well-balanced and pressured us into bad passes. 

We got rolling in the second half, where our defense improved, and we did a better job taking care of the ball. All in all, it was another challenging game against experienced opponents. But we still played closer to our best. 

Game 2: 8-10 Loss to Stanford White

This game was much more competitive than the last time we played this team. This was the back end of back-to-back games, but a shorter playing field helped mitigate the fatigue. 

Our passing was better overall, and we managed to keep up with Stanford offensively. We allowed a few too many easy transition goals in the first half, but we tightened up defensively as the game progressed. Brody Pfeffer had another great game in goal as he made double-digit saves and even blocked a 5-meter penalty shot. 

 

16U White—Coach Adam

16U White against West Valley was a challenge because the team got two kickouts within the first half of the game, losing 4-9. 

Against Marin, they lost 11-4. Despite being tired from the first game, they played hard, and their defense was solid towards the end.

 

16U Blue—Coach Steven

Game 1: 8-4 Win vs. Stanford

Intense team defense and interior solid offense had us in control the whole game. Playing against a team of familiar faces must have led to some extra motivation to play hard. 

We managed to jump out to an early lead and hold it throughout while leaving some offensive opportunities open later in the game. We played with minimal mistakes but missed some shots on goal. The victory margin could have been even more significant. It was good to start the morning with a decisive victory. 

Game 2: 12-3 Win vs. SoAC 

Our second game (back-to-back) was an even more convincing win as we maintained high-intensity defense. This created easy offense for us as we took an aggressive but balanced approach. 

Our conditioning proved strong as we played quickly in both games. This was an encouraging last tournament before we travel next weekend. We hope to carry the positive momentum with us.

 

18U—Coach Eric

18U lost to Marin 11-5; it was a rough game overall, but the team had some excellent goals from good team play.

The second game was an 8-4 loss to West Valley, but from our perspective, it was excellent. Great team defense and great goals that sets us up for substantial improvement moving forward 

 

A big shoutout to our excellent coaching staff for their efforts and guidance throughout the season—your passion for the sport shines through, and we are grateful for your commitment to our players' development.

 

Spring Season Details and Registration:

Now, let's turn our attention to the future. The Spring Season is just around the corner, and we couldn't be more thrilled! All the information you need, including the schedule and the registration link, can be found on our dedicated Spring Season page:

https://www.mpwaterpolo.com/2024spring

Whether you're a returning player or joining us for the first time, the Spring Season promises new challenges, growth, and a ton of fun in the water!

 

Thank you all for making the Winter Season a memorable one. We can't wait to see everyone in action for the Spring Season.

Splash you later!