MAKING A PASS—Thousand Oaks High co-captain Kathryn Irwin, left, tries to block a pass from Royal’s Rebecca Hacock during Wednesday’s match at TOHS. The Highlanders prevailed in a nail-biter, 10-8. Royal’s record in Marmonte League play is now 3-2. IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers Matt Frazier will try almost anything to get the Royal High girls’ water polo team’s offense going.

For now, Frazier, the Highlander head coach, hopes tinkering with his starting lineup will get things moving in the right direction.

“I’m trying to change things up right now,” the fourth-year head coach said. “We have a bunch of things to improve on.

“Our offense is kind of stagnant right now. We’re not running my offense. They’re running their own thing. I’m trying to find the right chemistry.”

Royal is 5-5 overall and 3-2 in the Marmonte League after defeating Moorpark and Thousand Oaks this week.

Despite a tough 16-1 loss last week to Agoura—the favorite to clinch the Marmonte title—the Highlanders will contend for second place in the league.

Royal has circled Fri., Jan. 22 on its calendar for a rematch against rival Newbury Park on the road.

The Panthers defeated RHS 10-9 in overtime in December’s league opener. The Highlanders, who have finished second in the Marmonte for three straight years, erased a 5-1 deficit to tie NPHS 8-8 at the end of regulation.

“We might have underestimated them,” said Hannah Guthman, a senior driver/utility who leads her team in scoring.

“Newbury Park has improved a lot. We weren’t prepared for that game. They came out strong.”

Guthman, who will continue playing water polo at UC San Diego next year, shed light on positives from this season.

“We’re improving as a team,” said Guthman, who is thinking about studying psychology or biochemistry at UCSD.

“I’m especially excited for our younger girls who are getting more experience. I love seeing everyone play up to their abilities. I feel like our team has a lot of potential. Even if we lose to Agoura again, hopefully we can give them a better game.”

Frazier said several Highlanders are enjoying solid campaigns in the pool.

The coach said Guthman, a four-year varsity standout, excels during counterattacks. The senior has also drawn her share of ejections.

Senior Mackenzie Waters is Royal’s primary 2-meter offensive player.

“She’s basically in the mix of everything,” Frazier said of Waters. “She’s a strong player.”

Waters has been offered a chance to play polo at Cal State East Bay in Hayward, but hopes to stir up interest from Cal State Northridge and Long Beach State, her preferred destinations.

The senior said she thinks the Highlanders can turn this season around. Winning two games this week certainly helped.

“We’ve got a lot of individual talent. We each bring something different to the table,” Waters said. “But we’re starting to grow as a team.”

Rachel Lewis is playing goalkeeper for the first time in her career.

“I pulled her out from a field of players this summer,” the coach said of the senior goalie. “She’s doing a very good job, especially for someone playing a brand-new position.”

Sophomore Rebecca Hacock has been a standout starter at utility/driver.

Katherine Ullrich, a senior, is a secondary whole set for Royal. Frazier said Ullrich is solid offensively.

Frazier, who has coached girls for five seasons and been an assistant with the boys’ squad for 17 years, praised Royal’s defense.

“We play good defense,” he said. “On offense, we’re not generating shots and we’re getting balls stolen too often. When we get shots, we’re not making them. It’s something that can be fixed.”

Frazier said if RHS can avoid large deficits early in games, the team will be more competitive.

The players are certainly enjoying their time together.

At the beginning of a Tuesday afternoon practice, the girls shared jokes that would put the current cast of “Saturday Night Live” to shame.

“We have lots of fun. We all get along well,” Waters said. “We enjoy playing with each other, and we all want the same things. This team’s bonded well.”