Last Thursday, October 3, the varsity girls water polo team triumphed over the Palo Alto High School Vikings in a nail-biting 12–10 overtime victory. 

The first quarter was a slow start for Los Altos, and the score was tied 3–3. A few communication disputes between the referees and coaches caused brief delays to the game. Ending the second quarter, Paly gained a 6–4 lead over the Eagles after a series of penalty shots.

“The most challenging part during the first half was getting our energy up,” junior Sophia Boschken said. “It was a slow first quarter, and we were trying to get fewer turnovers.”

In between timeouts, Head Coach Katie Tasman called the team to a huddle and reminded them not to let their previous thoughts influence their next play.

“I told them just to keep attacking,” Tasman said. “I knew what they were capable of, and they knew what they needed to do.”

Still, the Eagles fell short in the third quarter, with their lone goal being matched by the Vikings to finish the quarter 5–7. At the top of the fourth quarter, the packed crowd of parents, Los Altos students, and the varsity boys water polo team gathered to cheer the Eagles on. 

Thunderous applauses filled the John Felix Pool after senior Sahana Shah scored two goals in the fourth quarter, tying the game 9–9 and commencing an overtime period. 

“It’s really game-changing having so much support,” Tasman said. “Especially for those overtimes, it gives the team extra bursts of energy and keeps them motivated.”

The Eagles scored twice in the first overtime minute, leading 11–10. Goalie sophomore Alison Han made two huge blocks, hindering Paly’s scoring attempts. In the final minute, the varsity boys water polo team led chants in support, bringing the rest of the crowd to their feet and pounding the bleachers.

The Eagles closed the game 12–10, concluding their eighth league game of the season on an important victory. 

“During overtime, I was just thinking, ‘Wow, if we can beat Paly, this would be huge,’” Sophia said. “But in the future, we definitely need to keep chugging along and play as a team.”

Senior Cameron Draeger also sees more room for improvement. 

“We’re still focusing on keeping our defense and communication strong,” Cameron said. “Overall, we’ve been working well and hard during practices.” 

The Eagles will travel to face Lynbrook High School today.