The Oregon Club Sports water polo team backed up its pregame chants of “This is our house” by defeating Oregon State in the last game of the season.
The Ducks scored early and often Wednesday in the final game of two graduating seniors’ careers. The team doubled up the Beavers 12-6 to finish the spring season with a record of 13-8.
The team was up 5-0 in the first half, but then it gave up two Beaver goals within a minute of halftime.
Ben Farr ended Oregon State’s hopes of a comeback by opening the second half with three goals near the two-meter mark. His hat trick opened up the game for the Ducks.
The Beavers scored three more times in the final quarter, but the Ducks matched their total — plus one — for the win.
The victory was especially satisfying because the Ducks hadn’t beaten the Beavers in the last five meetings. In those games the score was usually close, with Oregon State pulling away in the waning moments.
The Ducks didn’t let this scenario happen again with their quick goals and constant offensive attack.
“We took them out of their game,” said senior Ben Gottlieb, adding that the key to victory was the Ducks’ lack of hesitation in shooting.
The team not only lit up the scoreboard, but it played stingy defense and won most of the battles for loose balls.
Amanda Studdard had another solid evening at goalie, giving up only one goal in her two periods as keeper.
“We had concentrated on dominating this team,” said Gottlieb of Oregon’s game plan against its archrivals.
The victory was how Gottlieb and fellow graduating senior Tod Spieker wanted to end their days in the water as Duck polo players.
“This was the key to our season,” Gottlieb said.
The success of next year’s team depends on the incoming the freshmen, Gottlieb said. The Ducks should hold their own with the majority of the team coming back, including the versatile Dave Nelson and standout goalie Amanda Studdard.
Fall season begins in mid-October and the team is optimistic about the possibilities.
“We’re still going to have a lot of experience and a lot of talent,” said freshman Anthony Tran. “Next year we have a strong chance at making nationals.”