Palomar Overpowers Southwestern 21-12 in Conference Opener

SAN MARCOS, CA (10/9/2024) -- In their conference opener on Wednesday afternoon, the Palomar College men's water polo team delivered an impressive 21-12 victory over Southwestern College. The win was a strong statement for the Comets as they kick off conference play.

Palomar's offense was led by a balanced attack, with standout performances from Ian Ritchie, Collin O'Neill, and Caleb Hogle. Ritchie netted two goals and dished out four assists while firing four shots on goal. O'Neill was a force on offense, scoring four goals on 10 shots and adding an assist. Hogle dominated with six goals on nine shots, contributing two assists and two steals to the team's overall performance.

The Comets started the match on fire, with Jack Fritz adding three goals and two assists to bolster the offense, while Phoenix Schultz chipped in with two goals and five shots. Nathan Heon, Brayden Bender, and Cody Poure each added a goal, and Andrew Vargas scored once while contributing four shots on goal.

Defensively, Palomar relied on their goalkeepers, David LePine and Wyatt Borchard, who combined for 13 saves on 25 shots. LePine had 10 saves across two quarters while allowing seven goals, and Borchard came in with three saves, allowing five goals. The Comets also made their presence known in the field with 10 steals, led by Brayden Bender's two.

Palomar's offense and strong defense were too much for Southwestern to handle as they pulled away to secure the 21-12 win. The Comets' next matchup will continue their quest for conference success as they aim to build on this impressive victory.