Lincoln-Way West girls varsity water polo team secured a 10-8 victory over Richards on Friday evening, with junior Joey Roedl leading the charge and Grace Brown delivering a strong performance in goal.
According to the match report, Roedl spearheaded the Warriors’ offense with four goals, enabling Lincoln-Way West to maintain a lead for most of the game. Ellie Trench contributed two goals, while Dana Dykshorn, Lilyth Swallow, Isabella Shenberger, and Olivya Agema each added one goal to complete the team’s scoring efforts.
The game remained competitive into the fourth quarter as Richards attempted a comeback, narrowing the deficit to two goals. However, Brown’s goalkeeping was pivotal; she recorded 14 saves and thwarted several late scoring attempts by Richards. “I’m proud of how we stayed composed,” Lincoln-Way West head coach said. “Grace came up huge for us in goal, and Joey really set the tone offensively.”
The Warriors’ defense proved resilient in the closing minutes by capitalizing on turnovers and restricting Richards’ opportunities to equalize. This victory improved Lincoln-Way West’s season record and provided momentum ahead of their upcoming conference matches. “This was a good team win,” Roedl said. “Everyone contributed, and we’re working really well together.”
Despite their defeat, Richards demonstrated resilience and maintained pressure throughout the match. Their offense gained momentum late but was ultimately contained by Lincoln-Way West’s cohesive defensive strategy.
Lincoln-Way West is set to return to action next week for a non-conference game as they aim to build on Friday’s success. “We’re taking it one game at a time,” Brown said. “But this win gives us a lot of confidence.” The team’s next match is scheduled for Tuesday at Andrew High School.