The Merced (CA) varsity water polo team will play a neutral playoff game against Rio Americano (Sacramento, CA) today at 2:30 p.m. This game is part of the 2024 CIF Sac-Joaquin Girls Water Polo Playoffs – Division 2 tournament.

Rio Americano vs Merced Water Polo Game Info:

What: California High School Water Polo
Who: Rio Americano vs Merced
When: Saturday, November 16, 2024
Time: 2:30 p.m.
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Game preview: Rio Americano vs Merced

The stage is set for an exciting high school water polo matchup between Rio Americano and Merced, two powerhouse teams with impressive records heading into the 2024-2025 season. Here’s a breakdown of each team’s performance, their scoring averages, key players, and their path to this anticipated clash.

Team Overview

Rio Americano has been a consistent contender with a 19-10 overall record, including a flawless 7-0 record in league play. They’ve demonstrated solid performances both at home and away, with a 7-1 record at home and a 3-3 record on the road. Their season highlights include impressive victories over tough opponents such as St. Francis and Christian Brothers, where they won 8-7 and 11-3, respectively.

On the other hand, Merced has been dominant, with a near-perfect 24-2 record, including a 9-1 league record. Merced has shown exceptional form, especially at home, boasting an 8-1 home record and an undefeated 9-0 neutral record. Merced’s season includes standout wins against St. Francis (11-5) and Christian Brothers (13-4), cementing their reputation as a high-scoring, high-efficiency team.

Team Scoring Averages

The scoring prowess of both teams has been impressive throughout the season:

• Rio Americano: Averaging 9.7 goals per game. Their scoring is well-distributed across all four quarters, with the most points in the first quarter (2.6) and the third quarter (2.2), but they tend to slow down in the second half, averaging only 2.0 goals in the fourth quarter.
• Merced: Averaging a high 14.0 goals per game, Merced has an explosive offense, particularly in the first half, where they average 7.8 goals per game. Their second quarter is their strongest, scoring an average of 4.0 goals before maintaining a solid pace in the second half (3.1 in Q3 and 2.6 in Q4).

Key Players

Rio Americano has standout players like Dottie Drury, who leads the team in multiple categories, including goals (79), assists (62), and shots (113). Drury’s contribution has been invaluable to the team’s offensive strategies, while Sarah Slocum stands out in defense with 85 steals.

Merced, with a powerhouse lineup, has seen outstanding individual performances as well. The team’s top scorer, Dottie Drury, leads with 79 goals, showcasing her offensive versatility. Her impressive 62 assists also reflect her ability to set up plays and control the pace of the game. Sarah Slocum has been a defensive force with 85 steals, significantly impacting her team’s success on the defensive end.

Common Opponents

Both teams share common opponents, where their performance has been closely matched:

• St. Francis: Rio Americano won 8-7 on 9/4/24, while Merced triumphed 11-5 on 10/12/24.
• Christian Brothers: Rio Americano defeated them 11-3 on 9/17/24, while Merced secured a 13-4 victory on 10/11/24.
• Inderkum: Rio Americano enjoyed comfortable victories, including a 17-7 win on 10/1/24 and a 12-4 win on 10/17/24. Merced also had a dominant performance with a 13-3 win on 9/13/24.

Record Breakdown

When comparing the records of Rio Americano and Merced, both teams have impressive league performances, but Merced has been more dominant overall:

• Merced: With a 24-2 record (9-1 in league), their only two losses were non-league games, which they have since rebounded from with impressive performances.
• Rio Americano: With a 19-10 record (7-0 in league), they’ve consistently delivered strong results, particularly in league play, though they have faced a few more defeats than Merced, especially in non-league matchups.

The teams also shared a strong performance against common opponents. Both teams have proven their ability to dominate, with Rio Americano holding a 5-0 record against common foes, while Merced is also impressive at 3-0.

What to Expect

The upcoming game between Rio Americano and Merced will be a highly anticipated contest, pitting two top teams against each other. Merced’s high-scoring offense and Rio Americano’s balanced play will make for an exciting match. With both teams coming off impressive seasons and showcasing top-tier talent, this game could be a preview of the season’s biggest battles, with the winner positioning themselves as a serious contender for the league title.

As both teams continue to aim for dominance, fans can expect fast-paced action, stellar defensive plays, and exciting scoring runs throughout the match. Stay tuned for what promises to be an unforgettable game.