The Sirens ASC women’s team enjoyed mixed fortunes on the opening day of the Next Generation Waterpolo Cup that is being played in Sabadell, Spain.
The Malta champions are competing in this prestigious U-20 tournament that brings together the most talented waterpolo players from around the world, with teams hailing from Spain, Hungary, Italy, France, Great Britain, the United States, and the Netherlands.
The St Paul’s Bay side opened their commitments against the Dutch U-19 team and suffered a 10-5 defeat.
Despite the loss the Maltese girls put on a solid performance which saw them take a first-session 1-0 lead through Kaia Agius.
Sirens kept the initiative and Agius doubled their lead and while the Dutch pulled a goal backthrough
Christodoulou, Zea Cutajar Licari restored their two-goal lead.
The Dutch team ended the session strongly, scoring twice without reply to restore parity before ends were chaged.
In the third session, the Netherlands U-19 took control of the match, as they managed to score three times without reply to surge 6-3 ahead.
Agius grabbed her team’s fourth of the match to keep Sirens in contention.
In the final session, Kendra Navarro kept the gap to two goals – 7-5.
But the Dutch quickly ended any hopes of a comeback from the Maltese team when ending three late goals to seal their win.
In the evening session, Sirens bounced back in style when they overcame Spanish side CN Sant Feliu 8-5.
The St Paul’s Bay side made a fast start as they surged into a three-goal lead following goals from a Kaia Agius penalty, Denise Micallef, and Elaya Montfort.
The Spanish side tried to fight back but only had a Sistac goal to show to head into the half-time break trailing Sirens 3-1.
Montfort soon restored Sirens’ three-goal lead at the start of the third session and although Perlba made it 4-2, the St Paul’s Bay side clinched their fifth goal through Micallef.
Perlba added a third for the Spanish side but Sirens hit back through Montfort – 6-4.
Play remained evenly-balanced as goals at either side from Micallef and Barlocco left Sirens two clear – 7-4.
But at the start of the final minute Montfort clinched her fourth of the match and Sirens’ eighth to seal her team’s victory.
On Saturday, Sirens complete their group commitments when they face hosts CN Sabadell.
