CHLOE BONINI (top right) tries to get the ball over Franklin’s defense as Lady Panther teammate Kaela Peterson (12) sets a screen.

Benicia High’s boys and girls varsity water polo teams got the season off to a strong start with victories over visiting Franklin last Thursday at Cunningham Pool in Vallejo.

The Panther boys got three goals from team captain Jason Own in a hard-fought 13-8 victory. Alexa Jacobson, Chloe Bonini, Gabrielle Wirth and Zoe Healey-Crowder each had three goals as the Lady Panthers cruised to a 17-7 win.

Benicia’s boys jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead on goals by Own, Cameron Gramlow and Kris Reiland. Up 4-2 in the second quarter, Gramlow and Own each scored again to give the Panthers a four-goal cushion at halftime.

Franklin scored the first two goals of the second half, but Reiland and Zach Lovett each found the net to keep Benicia in front. Up by only two going into the fourth quarter, back-to-back goals by Own and Nate Freeman made it 10-6. Late goals by Freeman, Jake Rafac and Riley O’Connor helped put the game away.

Benicia’s girls also got off to a quick start as Jacobson, Bonini and Wirth each scored for a 3-0 lead. Goals by Bonini and Healey-Crowder helped the Lady Panthers take a 5-2 lead after one quarter.

Benicia opened the second quarter with three straight goals as Bonini, Jacobson and Wirth each found the net. Sophia Silberman and Mireya Cabral-Mixco scored later in the half to give Benicia a commanding 10-3 lead at the break.

Four unanswered goals in third quarter gave the Lady Panthers a 14-3 lead as Healey-Crowder scored twice, with Jacobson and Lauren Matthews adding goals. Franklin closed to within 14-6, but goals by Esther Hurst, Wirth and Cabral-Mixco put Franklin away for good.

Lady Panthers goalkeeper Adrianna Wirth made several point-blank saves.

Benicia is scheduled to play at Vintage on Tuesday.

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