In their first home game of the young 2010 season the SRJC women’s water polo team came out swinging against Sacramento City College and never broke a sweat, beating the Panthers, 12-0.

The Lady Bear Cubs have qualified for the NorCal playoffs eight times out of the last nine years and finished fourth overall in NorCal in 2009. This season the Lady Bear Cubs are looking to improve on that respectable finish last season with the help of seven strong returning players.

Captain Caitlin Risden and her twin sister Courtney Risden both provide a spark for the team’s future. Also, the Big 8 Conference Goalie of the Year last season, Ariel Lockshaw, is one of the best goalies in California and provides the team a solid reinforcement on defense.

In the first period against the Panthers, the Lady Bear Cubs looked sharp. The team scored within the first two minutes of the game and in total scored six goals in the first period. Entering the second period the Lady Bear Cubs scored right away, and it wasn’t looking good for the Panthers. The team scored five total goals in the second period.

During the first two periods a variety of players were able to score, including Jill Vickers, Kristen Rydberg, Casey Citek and Courtney Risden all of whom had multiple goals. The team’s defense shut down any attack attempted by the Panthers.

Entering the third period the Lady Bear Cubs led 11-0. The team didn’t score in the third period, but still looked in charge. The defense didn’t allow any shots on goal and the offense was controlling the clock.

In the fourth and final period of play, the Lady Bear Cubs played like they knew they had won the game, and it seemed like the Panthers knew it too. SRJC completely controlled the ball and didn’t take wide-open shots. However, during the last five minutes of the game the Lady Bear Cubs commited some unnecessary fouls. Citek, who played a good game, was warned for kicking a Panther player. Then Courtney Risden was told to leave the pool along with another Panther player for pushing each other.

Even though the Lady Bear Cubs lost their composure towards the end of the game, overall the team played together and looked like a force to be reckoned with this season. Their next home game is on Oct. 6 at 3:30 p.m. against Delta College.