This weekend, Girls Water Polo finished off an impressive season with a second-place finish at its postseason tournament. After defeating Greenwich in the opening match, the team advanced to the finals for the first time in recent years, showing the results of their hard work and commitment throughout the season.
Despite a tough loss in the finals, the team was proud of its performance and progress. Audrey Baeten-Ruffo ’28 reflected on the season and the significance of the result.
“We ended up making it to finals, we lost, so we got second place overall. Of course, it was disappointing to not win the whole thing, but I think that result was really amazing for us, especially considering where the team has been in past seasons. Last year, I think we only won two or three games and didn’t even qualify for the tournament. This year, we brought home hardware,” said Baeten-Ruffo
The team opened the tournament with a gritty 9-6 win over Greenwich. Baeten-Ruffo credited starting goalie Sophia You ’26 for making a game-changing impact in that match.
“She had an absolutely insane first game. I think she blocked over 35-Meter shots, which is like a penalty shot in soccer. That’s not something a goalie is expected to save, but she did, and without her, that win might not have been possible,” said Baeten-Ruffo.
In the finals, Andover faced a tough challenge against a strong opponent. At one point, the team trailed 17-0, but continued to fight until the final whistle, scoring three goals in the second half.
“In the beginning, we were just trying one offensive option that wasn’t working. But after some communication with our coach, we started trying new things and began to score,” said Baeten-Ruffo. “That was a pretty big loss for us, but what I’m really proud of is that we never stopped playing. We never hung our heads. We kept giving it our all, and I think that really shows the culture of our team and how we don’t just give up, even when we’re down.”
Though the finals were challenging, the team walked away proud of their growth and resilience. Baeten-Ruffo reflected on how the experience showed the team’s identity.
“This season has been full of hard work from everyone, so it was really great to see that pay off in a trip to the finals. Even during the final, we stayed in it. We didn’t give up at any point, and I’m really proud to be part of that,” said Baeten-Ruffo.
Girls Water Polo’s second-place finish marks a major step forward for the program and leaves the team hungry for more next year.
