The CIF Division 1 girls water polo championship banner is returning to Coronado High School after the Islanders took down the Valhalla Norsemen on Feb. 18.
Last year’s championship came as less of a surprise with the Islanders having a stacked senior class.
But after losing 10 seniors heading into the 2022-23 season, the 7-3 win over Valhalla in this year’s championship capped off the Islanders’ underdog season.
“We knew the team would be small, but we had some great returning players,” said Coach Tim Reed.
Reed said expectations weren’t high heading into the season.
Alongside younger players who were willing to step up throughout the season, the Islanders finished with a record of 10-9 heading into the CIF playoffs.
As the No. 1 seed of the Division 1 bracket, Coronado enjoyed a bye week before their first playoff matchup against No. 8 Westview High School. The Islanders breezed past Westview with an 11-3 victory, before squeezing past No. 4 Santana High School with a 5-4 win.
“The girls put in some great work and became fantastic at working as a team,” said Reed.
Sofia Goicoechea had two crucial goals in the second half to ice the championship game, and more domination on the defensive end sealed the Islanders’ second CIF championship in as many years.
According to Goicoechea, repeating as champions after losing 10 seniors was an amazing experience.
With five starting players returning next year a three-peat is definitely not out of the picture for the Islanders.
But there will be one new face poolside as the Islanders seek their third straight championship, and that will be the head coach.
Reed, despite winning two championships in his two years of coaching, will step away from the team with his daughter entering her senior year of high school.
According to Reed, he looks forward to having more time with her and going to her sporting events now that he isn’t coaching.
“My two years at Coronado have been great fun, and a privilege to work with the team,” said Reed.
