Rustlers Battle, Fall Short to No. 10 Fullerton in OEC Showdown

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — The Golden West College women's water polo team went toe-to-toe with one of the state's top programs on Wednesday, but ultimately fell 13-9 to the No. 10 ranked Fullerton College Hornets in an Orange Empire Conference (OEC) matchup at the Golden West Aquatics Complex.

Golden West (7-4, 1-1 OEC) put together a strong second-half rally, outscoring Fullerton 5-3 in the third quarter to pull within two goals after trailing 8-3 at halftime. Despite generating 39 total shot attempts, the Rustlers couldn't overcome the Hornets' early surge and steady defense in the fourth quarter.

Sienna Abernathy led the Rustlers with a team-high four goals, including two during the third-quarter run that brought Golden West back into contention. Hanna Menyhart and Mimi Versegi each netted two goals, while Sam O'Donnell added one to round out the Rustlers' scoring.

In goal, Camryn Adams recorded 11 saves against 24 shots faced, keeping Golden West within striking distance.

Fullerton (9-2, 2-0 OEC) was paced by Mckenna Dunning, who tallied a game-high seven goals. Isabella Castaneda and Julianna Garcia added two apiece, while goalkeeper Sienna Bertsch anchored the Hornets' defense with 15 saves.

Despite the loss, the Rustlers showed resilience against a ranked opponent, highlighted by their third-quarter surge and balanced scoring contributions.

Golden West will look to bounce back on Friday, October 3, when they travel to face Riverside City College in another key OEC matchup.