Rachel Young and Abigail Jacoby scored in the final minute to lift Piedmont High School’s girls water polo team to a 5-3 win at American on Sept. 23.
The game was tied 3-3 entering the fourth quarter. But Young broke the tie with just 42 seconds left in regulation. Jacoby then scored with five seconds remaining.
Rachel Young 
Esme Krumins 
Sonja ten Grotenhuis 
Abigail Jacoby
“This was a tight, hard fought game,” Highlanders coach Georgia Lewis said. “But our girls just didn’t quit, and played a clean game, with just two exclusions versus nine exclusions and penalties for American, and this began to catch up with them heading into the fourth quarter.”
Esme Krumins scored two goals for Piedmont (5-8). Vivian Burke had the other goal. Jacoby also had two assists. Sonja ten Grotenhuis assisted on Young’s goal.
Kristy Zhu, Sophia Sychr and Crystal Ip scored goals for American.
On Sept. 21, Piedmont competed in the St. Francis Invitational at Palo Alto High School. Righetti-Santa Maria beat the Highlanders in their first match, 16-4. Krumins and Jacoby scored two goals apiece. Righetti was led by Amaya LeMaire with five goals. Gia Bettencourt added three goals.
Piedmont then faced Monterey, falling 11-5. Jacoby led the Highlanders with two goals while Krumins, ten Grotenhuis and Zoe Waitkus each scored a goal. Jacoby and Waitkus also had assists.
Delaney Reeder scored three goals to lead the Toreadors. Ava Celaya, Selah Kwasnoski and Bea Woltman each scored twice.
On September 17, Piedmont lost at Castro Valley, 13-8. Jacoby scored three times and Burke twice to lead the Highlanders. Krumins, Young and Julia Montes each scored once. Jacoby added three assists.
“Our team played hard and didn’t give up,” Lewis said. “After Castro Valley pulled ahead with a 6-1 lead in the first quarter, our girls showed real grit. Our players didn’t back down but kept up the pressure in the fourth quarter and came back. It is exciting to watch the team work together and pull hard for each other.”
Stella Chang had four goals for the Trojans while Corinne Arakawa and Isabelle Nicole each scored three times.
Piedmont’s next game is scheduled for October 1 at San Leandro.
(Photos courtesy of Lynne Wright)