Unbeaten Punahou sinks Iolani

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Punahou School girls water polo team completed a perfect first round in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu last night by crushing visiting Iolani, 17-3.

Anne Richardson scored six goals and Katie Flanagan added five goals for the Buffanblu, who improved to 3-0. Iolani, which got two goals from Brianne Castillo-Huang and one from Tatiana Shidaki, fell to 2-1.

The four-team ILH, which also includes Kamehameha and Pac-Five, will play a second round beginning next week. The second round will be followed by a single-elimination tournament. If the tournament champion and regular season champion are different, the two will play off for the overall title.

Richardson scored three goals and Flanagan had two goals in the first half as Punahou jumped out to a 7-0 lead.

Iolani scored the first two goals of the second half to close it to 7-2, but the Buffanblu scored nine unanswered goals to lead 16-2 midway through the fourth quarter.

"Our strength is our speed, so we want to be on constant attack and not let up on it," Punahou coach Ken Smith said. "The attack starts on defense, and it fuels other things."

Richardson, the ILH Player of the Year the past two seasons, and Flanagan both will play for UCLA next year. The Buffanblu have three other seniors headed to NCAA Division I programs, but Smith said their success comes from a work ethic, not just talent.

"They come to practice every day and work hard," Smith said.

Punahou also got two goals last night from Kamaile Crowell and one each from Avery Cavanaugh, Cat Vinson, Paya Mau and Natalie Rigg.

The goals came from all angles and from all over the pool.

Goalie Meagan Fawcett also had a strong game, with three blocks.

Iolani's Castillo-Huang will play for Loyola Marymount next year.