The Santa Cruz (CA) varsity water polo team will play a neutral playoff game against Aptos (CA) today at 11:50 AM at Sacred Heart Prep. This game is part of the “CCS Div II Championship” tournament.

Aptos vs Santa Cruz Water Polo Game Info:

What: California High School Water Polo
Who: Aptos vs Santa Cruz
When: Saturday, November 16, 2024
Time: 11:50 AM
Watch here:Watch here

Game preview: Aptos vs Santa Cruz

In an intense season of high school water polo, the rivalry between Aptos High School and Santa Cruz High School has delivered exciting matchups, with both teams showcasing their prowess in the pool.

Record and Standings

As of the 2024-2025 season, both teams have put together impressive records. Aptos boasts a 16-10 overall record with a solid 6-3 league performance, while Santa Cruz has a 14-8 overall record and a 5-3 league record. Both teams have shown strength in their league matchups, with Aptos leading in overall win percentage at .615, slightly trailing Santa Cruz’s .636 win rate.

Scoring and Key Performances

The game statistics reveal some key trends. Aptos averages 9.0 goals per game with consistent scoring across quarters—2.4 goals in Q1, 2.5 in Q2, 2.6 in Q3, and 2.2 in Q4. Meanwhile, Santa Cruz puts up 9.9 goals per game, with strong starts, averaging 2.8 goals in Q1, but slightly trailing in the second quarter at 1.8. Both teams are capable of finishing strong, with Santa Cruz maintaining 2.6 goals in Q3 and Q4, while Aptos puts up similar numbers but with a slight drop-off in the fourth quarter.

Head-to-Head Matchups

In their recent encounters, both teams have experienced mixed fortunes. The first head-to-head contest of the season, held on September 26, 2024, saw Santa Cruz come out on top with a 10-7 victory at home. Santa Cruz started strong, leading 3-0 in the first quarter and holding onto their advantage through the second and third quarters. Aptos fought back but could not overcome the deficit.

However, Aptos bounced back with two narrow wins in October. On October 15, the Aptos squad won 7-6 at home in a tightly contested game. A month later, on October 30, they edged out Santa Cruz once again with a 5-4 win in a neutral-site tournament game.

With these three matchups, it’s clear that the rivalry between these two teams is fierce and evenly matched, with each team showing its strengths in different aspects of the game.

Team Strengths

Key players on both sides have been central to their teams’ success. Aptos’s Adelaide Friedley has led the charge with 43 goals, followed closely by Adriana Santillano with 27 assists. On the defensive side, Scarlet Gleitsman Miller stands out with 40 steals. For Santa Cruz, Violet Rubin has been a standout with 76 goals and 55 steals, while Kat Fanni has contributed significantly with 31 assists.

In terms of goalkeeping, Aptos has had solid performances, but Santa Cruz’s Sage Steller-Croll stands out with a 7.2 goals against average, compared to Aptos’ unlisted goalkeeper stats. Steller-Croll’s impressive defense has been pivotal in Santa Cruz’s ability to stifle opposing offenses.

Common Opponents

When comparing their performance against common opponents, both teams show similar strengths. For example, both Aptos and Santa Cruz defeated Harbor and San Lorenzo Valley in dominating fashion, but both struggled in their matchups with Soquel, with Aptos losing 11-2 on October 24 and Santa Cruz falling 14-8 on October 16.

Looking Ahead: The Playoff Picture

With their playoff hopes still alive, both teams are poised for more high-stakes battles. The teams have another meeting scheduled today, November 13, 2024, in a neutral-site playoff game that promises to be another thrilling chapter in this rivalry.

As both teams prepare for the final stretch of the season, fans can expect more nail-biting moments and close contests. Whether it’s Aptos’s consistent offense or Santa Cruz’s formidable defense and star players, the outcome of this rivalry will have significant implications for the rest of the season and their quest for a championship.

Stay tuned as these two teams continue to make waves in the world of high school water polo.