GAME OF INCHES—Newbury Park High’s Kayleigh Sobieski, right, takes a shot over Lauren Houghton of Moorpark during Tuesday’s Marmonte League match. The Panthers won on the road, 15-10, to improve to 13-6 overall and 6-2 in league. Agoura is in first place. IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers The Panthers want to keep a good thing going.

Newbury Park High’s girls’ water polo team sits in second place in the Marmonte League entering today’s game at league leading Agoura.

The Panthers have found success sharing the offensive load.

“Our biggest advantage is we have six girls who are a threat to score on any day,” NPHS head coach David Gleisberg said. “Our main threat is Kayleigh Sobieski. If teams want to shut her down, we have other weapons.”

Sobieski is a special player.

One of 11 seniors on the varsity roster, Sobieski leads the Panthers with 69 goals. She maneuvers well in traffic, possesses a solid outside shot, draws ejections and wears opponents down with her physical brand of water polo.

Sobieski is dangerous patrolling the corners, where she can score from 8 meters out.

“She knows how to step it up when we need her to,” said goalkeeper Olivia Dowd.

Cheyenne Savoie is another highly skilled player who uses deceptive strength to fight for position and punch the ball past goalies.

Savoie, who has 38 goals, said the Panthers (13-6 overall, 6-2 in the Marmonte) have played better in recent weeks.

“The last couple of games we’ve been playing as a team instead of a one-man team (relying on Sobieski),” the sophomore standout said.

“Since we’ve grown closer, we’ve been getting better. I love how we’re all friends and we’re all really close. Liking each other and having fun helps us win games.”

Senior Eveline Van Brande and her younger sister, Catherine, a sophomore, are potent offensive players. Catherine Van Brande is the team’s fastest swimmer.

Gleisberg also said Sarah Galbawy has been an offensive threat.

Dowd is a three-year starter at goalie. The senior has 106 saves and also possesses a fine touch on long passes to sprinting teammates during counterattacks.

Natalie Baade, Abbie Huvard, Erika Spadaro, Haley Burdick, Becca Daly, Hilary Morefield, Kelly Gallaher, Kilala Simley and Denay Stevenson also contribute for the Panthers.

Newbury Park has the inside track to secure second place in the Marmonte.

The Panthers have swept the season series from Royal and earned an overtime win against a vastly improved Westlake squad.

Players said they were disappointed to lose by one goal to Thousand Oaks earlier this season.

Eveline Van Brande said NPHS played “really bad” in the Thousand Oaks setback. She hopes the Panthers will surge in the final stretch of the regular season.

“We’ll try to put up a good fight,” said Van Brande, who has notched 33 goals.

Newbury Park battles both the Warriors and Lancers again.

A big test will come today against the Chargers, who have won 10 of 12 league titles.

Savoie is very familiar with Agoura.

The Panther said she is friends with the Chargers and plays club polo with them on the Los Angeles Water Polo Club.

AHS coach Jason Rosenthal is Savoie’s club coach.

“Agoura is 10-times more physical than the other Marmonte teams,” said Savoie, the only Panther who plays for the L.A. club.

“They get better and better each year. I think we should learn from it. I’m trying to get our girls to join that club team.”

Savoie said she enjoys games against Agoura. Her teammates, on the other hand, have expressed different feelings about the Chargers.

“There’s a lot going on under the water that you can’t see,” she said. “Agoura’s very physical. All my teammates complain, but I have fun.”

Other Panthers are hoping for an upset today.

“We’ve come close in the past,” Dowd said. “It’s a challenge for everybody. If we beat Agoura— that would be amazing.”

Gleisberg would like the Panthers to play consistently for all four quarters.

The coach said NPHS often starts slow before making furious comebacks. A classic example of that occurred Tuesday against Moorpark, a 15-10 Newbury Park victory.

Newbury Park led only 7-6 at halftime before pulling away during a strong third period.

The Panthers hope to make a strong run to end this year. Savoie said she thinks they have a shot at reaching the third or fourth rounds of the playoffs.

“We’re playing much better as a team,” Gleisberg said. “We’re finding the open person and taking the open shot. We just want to finish strong and play better and better.”