Women’s Water Polo: Rio Hondo comeback falls short in loss to East LA

Sophomore Sabrina Miller scored a team-high five goals, including two in the fourth quarter, but Rio Hondo College couldn't hold a 7-4 halftime lead and loss by a final score of 14-13 to visiting East Los Angeles College on Wednesday.

The South Coast Conference defeat dropped the Roadrunners to 4-15 overall and 2-5 in conference play.

Miller set the tone early with three goals over the first half, including a pair in a five-goal, second quarter for the Roadrunners that staked them to the three-goal lead at halftime.

But East Los Angeles responded by outscoring Rio Hondo 6-1 in the third quarter to take a 10-8 advantage into the final period. Miller's goal with 1:26 left in the fourth got Rio Hondo within one at 13-12, but the Huskies scored again to extend their lead to a pair with a goal by Amy Cervantes with 46 seconds to play. Molly Orona scored for Rio Hondo with 31 seconds left, but that would be all for the Roadrunners.

Orona and Maribel Solis both scored three goals while Brenda Vasquez and Ayelin Gimenez added single goals for the Roadrunners.

Annie Manukyan posted 12 saves in goal over the first three quarters for Rio Hondo.

The Roadrunners return to action on Friday (Oct. 20) when they will compete at the two-day Long Beach City College Battle at the Beach tournament.