OAKDALE — The youth movement that is the Ripon High girls water polo team rolled to a 9-3 quarterfinal win Thursday over fifth-seeded El Dorado in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III quarterfinals at Oakdale High. The roster for No. 4 Ripon consists of seven sophomores, two freshmen and a senior.
“We worked really hard to be here from where we came from last year which basically was last in league,” Ripon coach Erik Zador said. “And to get where they are now is because of their dedication of hard work.
“That has made this group of girls a blessing to coach.”
Ripon (19-5) never trailed and led 5-1 at halftime behind a trio of sophomores — Rori Staley, Cooper Russell, and Hunter Bell Brown-Lyles
Staley pounded in the middle and led the team with four goals.
“It was pretty hard out there,” Staley said. “My defender was pretty strong, but I made sure I knew how to swim around her and tried my best not to get a foul, just fighting for my life.”
Russell was close behind with three goals.
“My goals were mainly counter attacks,” Russell said. “When I was open after a kick out or when I got around somebody.”
Brown-Lyles was stingy in the net, racking up 15 saves and allowing just three goa...