
Twelve was the magic number on Friday as SBCC scored a dozen goals in two games to move into the semifinals of the Battle at the Beach women's water polo tournament.
The No. 1-ranked Vaqueros beat Palomar 12-4 in the morning, than used a big second half to down No. 8 Golden West 12-6 at Cerritos College.
Santa Barbara has won seven straight games and improved to 20-1.
Emma Fraser had a hat trick in each game, boosting her state-leading goal total to 82. Kemi Dijkstra had two goals and three steals vs. Palomar and Lily Riley and Sarah Parson added two goals apiece.
Melisa Walk (7-0) played the last three quarters in goal and made six saves with a team-high four steals.
The Vaqueros were tied with Golden West 3-3 at the half, then pulled away with a 4-2 third-quarter advantage and 5-1 in the fourth. Hana Wigzell matched her season high with three goals and goalie Nicole Poulos made 11 saves. The Rustlers led 5-3 late in the third period before the Vaqueros reeled off six straight goals, capped by a Dijkstra score that made it 9-5 with 6:43 to play.
The top-ranked Vaqueros have a big game vs. No. 3 Sierra (19-1) on Saturday in the semifinals of their 16-team bracket at Cerritos, starting at 10:20 a.m.