Thea Pine PZ ’27 of Pomona-Pitzer (P-P) women’s water polo received SCIAC Athlete of the Week after a standout performance against Division II Azusa Pacific University (APU) on Wednesday, Feb. 5, boasting nine saves as goalie and only allowing five goals en route to an 11-7 victory.
In her third game of the season as P-P’s second of four goalies, Pine entered the pool for the second half against APU after a strong start from first-string goalie Zosia Amberger PO ’25. Pine, who had 15 appearances in her first season, described how it can feel like she has big shoes to fill.
“When my coach told me I was getting put in, I was super nervous,” Pine said. “Zosia [Amberger] had a great first half … she set the bar super high. And then I went in and immediately let in three goals.”
Associate Head Coach Alex La watched unphased as Pine struggled to hold back APU.
“When APU caught up, I kind of just left her alone,” La said. “I didn’t really say anything to her, I wanted to let her figure it out.”
As it turns out, Pine did figure it out; making her first block was all it took to get the ball rolling. Pine explained how these moments gave her the confidence to keep pushing.
“Once I got my first block, I felt a little more confident, and then from there, I was, like, okay, let’s just keep going,” Pine said. “I ran with it and had a great game.
Despite having played water polo since age twelve, Pine continues to find room for improvement as a goalie.
“I want to have confidence from the second I jump in the pool — confidence without any tangible success like making a block or getting a steal,” Pine said.
According to Amberger, she and Pine frequently work together during practice to help each other develop new skills.
“Thea [Pine] really pushes me to be better, especially during my last season,” Amberger said. “Seeing her do stuff like coming out of the cage more, which is something I do less, inspires me to be like ‘I can do that, too.’”
For Pine, having an upperclassman like Amberger as a role model has been pivotal for her success in college athletics, especially with their different styles of play.
“Zosia [Amberger] is the exact opposite of me but has helped me improve,” Pine said. “She always sets the bar, and she pushes me to get better.”
After playing as a starting goalie at Harvard-Westlake School, a competitive water polo powerhouse team led by former Division I coaches, Pine was presented with a new challenge upon arriving at P-P: the bench.
“This past weekend, we were in San Diego, and I didn’t even hop in the pool,” Pine said. “Having to be hungry for improvement and for minutes was definitely the biggest adjustment coming here, and something I’m still dealing with.”
For La, a strong bench is the key to success as the Sagehens compete for a Division III national championship and look to establish the program among big names in DII and DIII.
“In the beginning of our seasons, we’re playing a lot of opponents outside our conference and outside our division,” La said. “Whether or not she gets to start … [Thea Pine’s] always ready.”
As Pine’s game evolves, so does her position as a leader on the team.
“Last year, she just worked hard and wanted to play,” La said. “But this year, I see her talking more, and being a leader and not just working hard but working hard by example.”
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