Cuesta Women's Water Polo made its 2024 home debut against Golden West and defeated the Rustlers, 15-8, to extend their season opening winning streak.  The Cougars have won their first five games of the season, which is the program's best mark since opening with six wins in 2015.  Cuesta struck first when Freshman Annika Pauschek scored 14 seconds into the contest, however the Rustlers rallied to take a 3-1 lead, before the Cougars corrected and tied the game on a pair of power-play goals from all-WSC Returners Maddie Corrigan and Hannah Kempf.  Cuesta continued its run with four more goals in the next five minutes to take four-goal lead, 7-3, however the Rustlers capitalized on the Cougars comfort and tallied two goals of their own just before intermission to cut Cuesta's lead in half, 7-5.  Third-year Coach Rachel Gruetzmacher made some halftime adjustments and put her team back on the right track as Cuesta took control of the game with an 8-1 run to start the second half.  The Rustlers added two more goals in the final two minutes, while the Cougars cruised to a 15-8 victory.  All-WSC Returner Maddie Corrigan joined Freshman Adelyne Merritt to lead the Cougars with four goals apiece, while Pauschek, after scoring the game's first goal, netted Cuesta's capper to complete her hat-trick.   Returning All-WSC Goalie Aubrie Kirkby Tatro earned the win in the nets, while collecting all seven of her saves in the final quarter.  Cuesta's Poloists are currently undefeated and tomorrow will open the first day of their Central Coast Classic by facing both defending CCCAA State Champion Santa Barbara (9:10) and 2023 CCCAA State Runner-up Riverside (3 PM).  The ten-team tournament is set to begin 8 AM tomorrow, when Golden West jumps back in the water against Long Beach and closes after the host Cougars face Diablo Valley in the tournament finale at 4:20 PM on Saturday.