SONORA — A five-goal outburst in the second quarter helped the Ripon High boys water polo team gain a wide separation en route to a 15-7 victory over Sonora.

The Indians improve to 4-0 in the Valley Oak League and is a step closer to successfully defending their title after vanquishing one of their chief rivals. Ripon’s girls team, meanwhile, dropped to 2-2 after a tough 12-9 loss to the Wildcats.

Kole Gonzales paced the boys team with five goals. Ty Wells added four to go with two steals, and Diego Moreno scored three. Noah Esenwein contributed a pair of goals, and Daniel Esenwein scored once and won three sprints. Darnay Mack blocked seven shots at goal.

Ripon’s girls squad had a chance to come away with a big road victory. Trailing by one after each of the first two quarters, the Indians managed to even the score at 7-7 by the start of the fourth.

Goalie Kyra Foley kept Ripon in the hunt throughout, finishing with 13 saves and four steals. Hannah Sweet produced four goals, while Andria Martin chipped in with two. Kaela Gill, Chloe Winter (three steals) and Alexia Urias had one goal apiece.

Ripon’s boys are competing in the Delong Tournament on Friday and Saturday. The VOL schedule wraps up next week with a trip to Bret Harte on Oct. 26 and a home match with Kimball on Oct. 28.



SOCCER

Ripon Christian 2,
Mariposa 1

MARIPOSA — The two teams traded own goals in the second half as the Knights (3-8 Southern League, 5-13 overall) escaped Mariposa with the victory and a season sweep of the Grizzlies (1-10).

Ripon Christian led for most of the game. Cole Brouwer pushed the visiting side ahead in the sixth minute with a goal set up by Rian Koetsier. The Ripon Christian defense tied it at 1-1 after its own goal in the 59th minute, but Mariposa returned the favor five minutes later after knocking it into its own net following a cross by Jake Van Vuren.