Senior Pa’ kalani Vaka-Saxton had six goals and one steal, and Santa Cruz High’s boys water polo team beat Soquel 13-10 to lock up the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League title on Thursday.

It’s the Cardinals’ seventh league title, sixth outright, in the past nine years.

Junior Hayden Johnson had four goals and two steals for the Cardinals (16-3, 7-0). Sophomore Xavier Hunter scored twice, and junior Nikolaus Kay had one goal, two assists, and one steal.

“Pa’ kalani was on fire today,” said Caleb Conroy, the Cardinals’ ninth-year head coach. “He played well. Hayden also played well.”

The Cardinals were without starter Tate Wilson, who was on a college recruiting trip, and top reserve Judah Mulder, who is recovering from a broken finger.

“We didn’t have our normal depth tonight,” Conroy said. “We were pretty bare bones depth-wise. We played consistently with composure. And our goalkeeper had a couple of big saves.”

It was the Cardinals’ second win over Soquel in league action. They won 13-8 in the teams’ first meeting Oct. 1.

“We ran a different offense and defense with Tate out,” Conroy said. “Soquel did a good job of showing cracks in our defense.”

Sophomore Laird Bowser made nine saves and one steal for the Cardinals.

Junior Stryder Stelck had three goals and two assists for the Knights (14-7, 4-2). Seniors Cash Wolf and Noah Piona each scored twice. Sophomore Cane Mitchell had a goal, one assist, and four steals.

Senior Jacob Henshaw made 10 saves for the Knights.

The Cardinals host Buchanan (12-6) on Thursday at 7 p.m., and play at Los Gatos (15-3) on Friday at 7 p.m.

Soquel hosts San Lorenzo Valley on Tuesday 7:30 p.m.

Girls water polo

Soquel 14, at Santa Cruz 8 >> Sophomore attacker Elizabeth Penny had five goals, one assist, and three steals, and the Knights secured no worse than a share of the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League title on Wednesday.

It’s the first title for first-year head coach Shelby White, a Knights alum who served as assistant the past five year, and the program’s 14th straight league title.

Freshman Keira Burke had three goals, two assists, and four steals for Soquel (13-5, 6-0), and freshman Grace Graessle had two goals and two steals. Natalie Salerno, Natasha Ackerstein, Sequoia Drake, and Libby Forrest also scored for the Knights, who have two league matches remaining.

Junior Violet Rubin had four goals for the Cardinals (8-5, 3-2). Malia Cooper scored twice, and Amalia Terrazas and Kat Fanni also scored.

Soquel goalie Maddison Barwick made seven saves. Sage Steller-Croll made 13 saves for the Cardinals.

On Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.,Soquel host SLV, while Santa Cruz plays at Harbor.

Track and field

Grand Slam Track >> Aptos native Nikki Hiltz, the 2024 Olympic Trials champion in the 1,500 meters, is joining Grand Slam Track League, a new promotion that will launch in 2025.

Hiltz will compete in the 800 and 1,500 meters at four meets between April and June.

Grand Slam Track was founded by Michael Johnson, 57, a four-time Olympic gold medalist.

Girls soccer

Spain 3, U.S. 1 >> Santa Cruz High’s Jocelyn Travers started on defense for the U.S. as it opened the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup with a loss to the two-time reigning champion in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on Wednesday.

Spain scored its first goal in the third minute, after forward Celia Segura smashed a shot off the right post that then took a fortunate (for Spain) deflection off the leg of recovering Travers.

Melanie Barcenas knotted the score at 1-all in the 22nd minute, but Spain pulled away with tallies in the 70th and 83rd minutes.

The U.S. continues group play against Colombia on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Girls flag football

Aptos 31, Santa Cruz 0 >> Freshman Caylie Ashton threw three touchdown passes, and the Mariners remained unbeaten in SCCAL play Wednesday.

Ashton completed a 39-yard touchdown pass to Ellie Marta, a 2-yard scoring pass to Natasha Newcombe, and a 5-yard TD pass to Mia Sanchez.

Izzy Graff scored a 60-yard run.

Senior Gaby Dow threw a 16-yard scoring pass to Jane Parry.

Aptos plays Soquel at Harbor High on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Scotts Valley 48, Harbor 0 >> Quarterback Jazzy Phillips threw six touchdown passed in the Falcons’ SCCAL win Wednesday.

Sammy Rebbert had two touchdown receptions, and Claire Skinner, Taylor Wilson, Brooklyn Williams and Shelby Chace each had one.

On defense, Sarah Drees, Wilson, Natalia Lapioli and Skinner recorded interceptions. Drees and Wilson returned their picks for touchdowns.

Scotts Valley (5-2) plays SLV at Soquel High on Wednesday at 8 p.m.

At Watsonville 22, Soledad 6 >> Quarterback Fernanda Lazo threw two touchdown passes and an interception in the Wildcatz’s win Wednesday in Pacific Coast Athletic League Gabilan Division play.

Monique De La Mora and Briana Leon hauled in touchdown passes for the Wildcatz (7-13, 6-6). Emily Solorio returned one of her two interceptions for a touchdown, and made five flag pulls.

Boys cross country

PCAL Cypress Meet >> Kirby junior Mason Vergho (17:37) took third out of 40 runners in the 2.93-mile PCAL Cypress Meet at Pinto Lake County Park on Wednesday.

Pacific Collegiate sophomore Jude Holmlund (18:01) took fifth, senior Roark Anderson (18:18) was seventh, and freshman Alexander Profumo (18:23) was eighth.

Pacific Grive junior Antony Gabrik won in 17:04 and led the Breakers (34) to the meet win. PCS (84) took third and Kirby (91) was fourth.

PCAL Santa Lucia Meet >> Pajaro Valley junior Erik Michi (17:47) took fourth out of 37 runners in the 2.93-mile PCAL Santa Lucia Meet at Pinto Lake County Park on Wednesday.

Palma senior Wells Lilly (16:20) took first. Ceiba senior Diego Sanchez (18:31) took seventh, and Pajaro Valley junior Patrick Lopez (18:49) was 10th.

North Salinas (42) was the top team, and Pajaro Valley (48) took second.

Girls cross country

PCAL Cypress Meet >> PCS freshman Iris Paten (20:56) took third out of 55 runners in the 2.93-mile PCAL Cypress Meet at Pinto Lake County Park on Wednesday. Senior teammate Arie Shae McNeil (21:31) took fourth.

Palma senior Izabella Tejeda (20:19) took first. Ceiba junior Carimey Maldonado (24:43) took 16th, and Pajaro Valley junior Emily Lopez (25:02) was 19th.

Anzar (39) took first, PCS (82) took third, and Ceiba (144) finished seventh.

Women’s volleyball

At Cabrillo 3, San Francisco 0 >> The Seahawks earned a 25-10, 25-14, 25-11 sweep in their Coast Conference North Division match Wednesday.

Cabrillo (7-13, 2-1) plays at Hartnell (9-12, 2-1) on Friday at 6:30 p.m.

Men’s water polo

West Valley 19, at Cabrillo 2 >> The Seahawks lost to the state’s co-No. 1 ranked team in Coast Conference action Wednesday.

Brandon Smith and Ayden Reed scored for the Seahawks (2-16-1, 2-2).

Zalan Hegedus scored four goals to lead the Vikings (19-3, 5-0).

Cabrillo hosts Las Positas (7-11, 2-1) on Wednesday at 3 p.m.

Women’s swimming

At UC Santa Cruz 228, Whittier 48 >> UCSC’s Maddy Gruender, Lily Wolfinger, Fiona Lei, and Tereza Shea teamed up for first place in the 200-yard medley relay in 1:50.01 on Saturday.

Other Banana Slugs winners include: Keaton Canaday in the 50 free (25.30) and 100 butterfly (1:01.34), and Piper Stickler in the 1,000 freestyle (11:09.75).

UCSC’s Briseis Valenzuela secured first in 1-meter diving (225.30 points).

UCSC holds the Slug Shootout at the East Field House pool on Friday and Saturday.

Men’s swimming

At UCSC 226.5, Whittier 44.5 >> UCSC’s Brandon Le, Karsten Hsiao, Morgan Madril, and Kyle Reitan took first place in the 200-yard medley relay in 1:37.16 on Saturday.

UCSC’s Kyle Reitan took first in the 50 freestyle (21.01), teammate Jude Robinson took first in the 100 butteffly (52.52), and Charlie Charles took first place in 1-meter diving (157.30 points).

UCSC holds the Slug Shootout at the East Field House pool on Friday and Saturday.