IRVINE >> Pasadena Poly’s girls water polo team and Liz Fogassa were determined not to be stopped Saturday in the CIF-SS Division 5 girls water polo final.

The senior center took advantage of one-on-one coverage at 2 meters to score seven goals, including the game-winner, to lead the third-seeded Panthers past No. 1 Rosary 10-9 in a back-and-forth championship match at Woollett Aquatics Center.

Fogassa scored the only two goals of the fourth period -- the tying and game-winning score -- to lead Pasadena Poly (22-6) to its first title since 2017.

“We were on a mission to win,” Fogassa said. “It feels great. Going out of COVID for the past year or two and getting a full roster (was key). Last year, we had nine girls in total. This year, we have 14 girls.”

Fogassa tied the score at 9-9 with a strike from center with 4:09 left in the fourth period. About 30 seconds later, she added another goal from the 2-meter area for the winning margin with 3:34 remaining.

“I really thrive in one-on-one (situations),” said Fogassa, who doesn’t intend to play in college. “I work well in open space.”

Pasadena Poly closed the title by not allowing a goal for almost the final 1 1/2 periods. Rosary (19-14) took a 9-7 lead with 2:16 left in the third period, but didn’t score again.

Senior Tonanxochitl Ortega, co-captain with Fogassa, delivered one of the biggest defensive plays down the stretch by forcing a ball-under whistle and turnover coming out of a Rosary timeout with 1:54 left in the fourth.

The Panthers’ defense also received 10 saves from freshman goalie Georgie Collister and three steals from junior Natalie Vincent.

Rosary, in its first season under coach Gabriel Martinez, opened the second half by scoring four consecutive goals to take a 7-6 lead. Sophomore Alexis Velazquez netted two of her team-high four goals in the third for the Royals.