The No. 2 City College women’s water polo team advanced to the CCCAA State Championship for the fourth time in the program’s history from Nov. 19 through Nov. 20.

Although the team fell 6-5 in the championship game to North No. 1 West Valley College, it was the third time the Vaqueros (30-7) played for the state title in school history.

“We’re the second-best team and I don’t think that is anything to be upset about or frown about,” head coach Chuckie Roth said. “I think my girls should hold their heads high, they’re a phenomenal bunch of young women.”

To get there they beat No. 9 Citrus, No. 4 Long Beach City, and No. 2 Fullerton at the SoCal Regional Championships from Nov. 12 to Nov. 13.

On Friday, Nov. 19, the team played against North No. 2 San Joaquin Delta College in the semi-finals and won 8-6.

“I think we did our best against hard teams, they were really tough games, but I think we did our best and I’m really proud of us,” freshman Eden Tal said.

Then on Saturday, Nov. 20, City College went up against West Valley in the finals.

“West Valley’s a really good team, they had beaten us three times previously,” Roth said.

In the four meetings, City College lost to West Valley by seven, five, three and one goal(s).

Despite the defeat, the team appreciated what they achieved.

“I’m really proud of what we accomplished this weekend,” sophomore Allison Kay said. “I think even though we lost, it didn’t feel like a loss. I think our team played really well, we finished hard and we finished proud of what we accomplished this season.”

The Vaqueros won the Western State Conference for the seventh straight season, continuing their streak since the program began in 2014.

Roth mentioned how this year’s team always came ready to play, had a “never-give-up” attitude and how he was going to miss this group of girls.

“[They] overachieve in so many ways, we fell short at the end and that happens to great teams,” Roth said. “It’s just unfortunate the way it finished for us this year, but I’m going to miss this team a lot.”

Several Vaqueros earned honors for their performance during the season:

• Megan Ditlof and Eden Tal were both selected to the All-Tournament team at the State Championship
• Megan Ditlof, Allison Kay, Chloe Mckay and Jenna Olson were named All-WSC first team
• Emily Lopez and Charlize Winter were named All-WSC second team
• Emily Clapham, Aaliyah Gavia and Ensley Letterman all earned All-WSC honorable mentions
• Eden Tal was named WSC Player of the Year
• Chuckie Roth was named WSC Coach of the Year

Tal also spoke about how she “really wants to say ‘thank you’ to [the coaches], we couldn’t make it without them.”

Kay, who along with Jenna Olson were the team’s two sophomores, summed it up:

“The strongest thing about our team this year [was] we had really good chemistry in and out of the water,” she said.

“Even though I don’t have 15 teammates anymore, it’s more like having 15 other family members. That was the most influential part of the season, all of us being best friends.”