No. 1 Golden West Set to Defend OEC Dominance at Conference Championships

Huntington Beach, Calif. – The top-ranked and eight-time defending state champion Golden West College men's water polo team is set to begin its postseason run this week as the No. 1 seed in the 2025 Orange Empire Conference Championships, hosted by Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa.

The Rustlers will open play on Thursday, November 6, at 1:00 p.m., awaiting the winner of the morning matchup between Cypress College and Riverside City College (9:00 a.m.). Golden West enters the tournament looking for their 36th consecutive conference crown after another dominant regular season that saw the team finish with a 29–2 overall record and a perfect 5–0 mark in OEC play.

Golden West once again showcased the balance, depth, and defensive precision that has defined its dynasty under head coach Scott Taylor. The Rustlers' high-powered offense led the state with 509 goals across 31 games, averaging an impressive 16.42 goals per contest while shooting at a 54.4% clip.

Defensively, the Rustlers were equally formidable, allowing just 219 goals all season — an average of 7.1 goals per game — while posting 266 saves and 430 steals as a team.

The Rustlers' roster depth was on full display throughout the season, with six players scoring 30 or more goals and nine players recording double-digit assists.

Sophomore goalkeeper Boston Frost anchored the defense, starting 23 games and recording 192 saves with a 58.9% save percentage, finishing with a 22–2 record in goal.

Freshman Gavin Abbott emerged as one of the team's top scoring threats, leading Golden West with 48 goals on a stellar 64% shooting percentage. Fellow first-year standout Lucca Van Der Woude added 44 goals and 15 assists, while sophomore Michael Rodgers chipped in 44 goals of his own, contributing leadership and defensive grit.

At center, Gavin Templeton provided a strong two-way presence with 40 goals and 40 exclusions drawn, while freshman Wemmer Van Beukering and sophomore Joao Goncalves rounded out a balanced attack with 31 and 32 goals, respectively.

Golden West closed the regular season on a strong note, winning six of its final seven contests. The Rustlers' only losses came against NCAA programs UC Davis and Long Beach State, both Division I opponents, further underscoring the program's elite level of play.

Coach Taylor's squad will now look to capture another Orange Empire Conference title as they continue their pursuit of a ninth consecutive 3C2A State Championship.