U18F: Pallanuoto Trieste ranked seventh in Italy. Riccioli: "A good base to start again."

Pallanuoto Trieste ranks seventh in Italy in the Under 18 women’s category. This is the verdict at the end of the Scudetto finals held at the Plebiscito Sports Center pool in Padua, which the team led by Isabella Riccioli and Paolo Zizza faced with great dedication despite having many underage players and little experience at this level. After three challenging matches in the group stage, with defeats against Locatelli Genova (6-13), Como Nuoto (5-6), and Orizzonte Catania (6-11), the Trieste team came close to an impressive feat in the quarter-finals against the home team Plebiscito Padova. In fact, during the first period, the Alabardate girls found themselves ahead 3-1 thanks to goals from De March, Zavattin, and Folchini. In the second quarter, they held their own (4-4 at halftime) only to yield to Padova's surge in the third period (0-3 partial score). The 7-10 defeat forced Pallanuoto Trieste to play the semifinal for the fifth place, which they lost by three goals to Locatelli Genova. In the final match, the battle for the seventh place, they secured a refreshing 6-4 victory over Como Nuoto with 4 goals from De March and goals from Portillo and Marega.

"Overall, it went quite well," analyzes coach Isabella Riccioli, "especially in the matches against Orizzonte and Plebiscito, we did some interesting things. The girls gained valuable experience, and this serves as a foundation to build upon for future growth."

Pallanuoto Trieste squad and goals scored at the Under 18 women’s Scudetto finals: Bergamasco, De March (21), Zavattin (3), G. Petrucci, Mecchia, Portillo (2), Zoch (8), Folchini (1), Marega (1), A. Apollonio, Abbondanza (1), Gaspardo, R. Apollonio.

Final Standings: 1. Orizzonte Catania, 2. Plebiscito Padova, 3. Bogliasco 1951, 4. Sis Roma, 5. Locatelli Genova, 6. Rapallo Pallanuoto, 7. Pallanuoto Trieste, 8. Como Nuoto