By John M. Sherrard

(LONG BEACH) After a nine-day break from the schedule the Mountie women were back in action competing in the Long Beach City College "Battle at the Beach" water polo tourney over the weekend.

They played two games on Friday, losing to Sierra College, 10-7, and defeating San Diego Mesa in overtime, 7-6.

Leading the way for Mt. SAC against Sierra was freshman 2-meter player Kayla De Herrera with four goals and sophomore attacker Hannah Krolik with three.

Freshman defender Alexis Aguirre had five steals in the game.

Throughout the first two periods the teams traded goals, with Sierra holding a one-goal lead, 4-3, at the half.

However, Sierra ran off four consecutive goals in the third period for an 8-3 lead, which the Mounties couldn't overcome in the final period.

"We played well but allowed four unanswered goals in the third (period) and couldn't come back from it," Mt. SAC coach Chris Jackson said.

In the 7-6 OT win over SD Mesa, the Mounties built up a 5-2 lead after the first three periods, but were shutout in the final period, 3-0, to tie the game, 5-5, at the end of regulation. Mesa's tying goal came with 2:24 left.

Mt. SAC freshman Marina Valenzuela and Krolik both had two goals. The other three goals came from sophomore attacker Beth Keane, Aguirre (5 steals) and De Herrera.

In the two 3-minute overtime periods the Mounties never trailed as Krolik scored in the first OT to lead 6-5 and De Herrera gave Mt. SAC a 7-5 lead in the second OT. Mesa scored a goal to make the final, 7-6.

"Its good experience to win a game in overtime," said Jackson of the extra-period game.

The Mountie women return to the LBCC pool this Wednesday for the last regular season game of the year, a South Coast Conference clash.

They are tied for second at 6-1 with Cerritos College, a game behind Long Beach.

Last season LBCC won the regular season SCC title.

On Friday there will be an alumni game at the Marie T. Mills Aquatic Center game time is 6:00 p.m.