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The Berkeley High women’s water polo team lost 9-6 to DeAnza in what amounted to a scrimmage Thursday afternoon. 

The match was supposed to be the team’s first league game, but there was a shortage of qualified referees for the day and the league canceled the game. But DeAnza coach Randy Sorenson decided to bring his team to the Willard Middle School pool for the match anyway, and the teams engaged in a spirited game that Berkeley never led. 

The match started off slowly, as the teams each scored a goal in the first period. DeAnza’s defense cut off the Berkeley attack on several occasions, and the Dons’ pressure and constant fouling caused the Yellowjackets to repeatedly let the shot clock run out before getting off a shot. Despite having only two substitutes, the Dons beat their opponents to almost every loose ball, and were much faster in transition than the Yellowjackets. 

On defense, the Yellowjackets chose to lay off of DeAnza’s outside players, giving them clear shooting lanes, and goalie Amy Degenkolb was forced to make several diving saves to keep the score tied. DeAnza finally broke though in the second period, scoring four goals while allowing only one, breaking out to a 5-2 lead. Rasham Nassar was the key player for the Dons, as she controlled the offense from the outside and scored three goals in the period, including a breakaway with just seconds remaining in the half. 

The Yellowjackets looked strong coming out for the second half, and quickly scored a goal to cut the DeAnza lead to two. But the offense stalled again as they struggled to get the ball inside. DeAnza again scored at the end of the period, this time on a long shot by Kristen Cassady, and the Yellowjackets were facing a 6-3 deficit heading into the final period. 

The ‘Jackets again roared out of the gate to start the period, as Cody Keffer scored two quick goals. But with just three minutes remaining, Berkeley fell apart, allowing three goals in less than two minutes, including another breakaway for Nassar. It was her fifth goal of the match, and ended any comeback hopes for the home side. Berkeley was able to pull out one more goal before the end of the match, but ended up on the losing end of the stick. 

With the match not counting in the league standings, the Yellowjackets will kick off their league season next Thursday against Pinole Valley at 4:30 p.m. The ‘Jackets are 2-1 this season.