If there was ever a team that felt like it was due for a win, it was the Coronado Islanders girls’ water polo team. With a record of 1-8 in their first nine games and a -80 goal differential, the girls in green caps have been through the wringer during the 2024-2025 season.

But this past weekend, this young group of Islanders continued to try and earn their stripes and took a step forward by picking up a pair of wins in tournament play over Valley Center High School and Mira Mesa.

“I was extremely proud of how the girls played this past weekend. It’s been a tough season, but to see them play with confidence and execute things we had put in place speaks to their growth,” said Head Coach Jesse Smith.

No, Coronado didn’t take down teams with mass notoriety, but they showed they could handle business against opponents more in their domain.

In the cage, Delaney Carstens played perhaps her best ball of the season, and she recorded double-digit save totals in all three of the games the Islanders played.

Her best performance was undoubtedly against Valley Center, where she recorded a clean sheet in the Islanders’ 14-0 win.

Sofia Kelly also showcased her defensive skills in the pool, constantly closing out on shooters closer to the cage. Kelly, along with Carstens, were the vocal leaders in the pool. Coronado was a much more sound team in terms of communication and game plan due to their constant chatter.

“Delaney played extremely well all weekend; she was a block machine back there. We would not have won those matches without her,” noted Smith. “As for Sofia, she played really sound defensively, as did Aniella Orgill. Both girls went out there and played with intent and confidence.”

With the defense commanding the game, Coronado’s attack reaped the benefits, as evidenced by their 33 total goals in three games. The turnovers created by their defense allowed the Islanders to find themselves in more 4-3 and 3-2 situations when on attack, which they capitalized on regularly. Allyson Fabrey and Kailyn Cornell helped lead the goal-scoring in a number of those 4-3 situations.

“We have been trying to set up these 4-3 situations in their mind conceptually, and this past weekend, the girls did a much better job implementing that,” said Smith. “It was just awesome to see them piece these things together, get these wins, and build some much-needed confidence.”

Now, after their two-win weekend, Coronado is set to officially start their 2025 league schedule, which means from here on out, the Islanders will be facing heavy hitters such as Bishops and Cathedral.

While wins in these matches feel unlikely, Smith wants his girls to focus on what they control. “These games are going to be intense, but for these young players, these games and minutes in the pool are important and will help them down the line.”

The Islanders are set to take on Bishops High School this Tuesday, January 14, at Bishops High School. The Knights are currently the number six ranked team in the United States, per MaxPreps.