Looking at the schedule before the season started, some on the Tracy High water polo team’s side of the pool might have written off Tuesday’s match against perennial doormat Franklin as a surefire win.

If they did, they sure aren’t saying anything now.

Under new coach Nick Goucher, the vastly improved Yellowjackets battled Tracy even in both the boys and girls games — and even took the lead in the boys event — before falling 5-4 to the Bulldog girls and 6-4 to the Bulldog boys at the Tracy High pool.

Whether or not the Bulldogs (2-2 San Joaquin Athletic Association) took Franklin seriously, all eyes were focused on Thursday’s crucial matchup with Lincoln.

That might have contributed to Tracy’s slow start Tuesday, as the Yellowjackets twice tied the Bulldogs in the first half before second-half goals from Lindsey Sharpe and Nicole Brown, the latter coming with 1 minute 51 seconds left in the game, sealed a 5-4 win.

“It was real stressful,” sophomore Emily Due said of the first half. “We felt like we could have done more. It took us awhile to start playing together as a team.”

Ali Berrien’s tally in the first quarter got things going, and after Franklin tied, Melissa Schaf and Berrien both scored to give Tracy a 3-1 cushion. Again, Franklin tied, before Sharpe pushed Tracy to the lead and Brown’s strike sealed it.

“Alyssa (Britt) and Ali (Berrien), the captains, stepped up and rallied the girls,” Tracy coach Keith Britt said. “We were fortunate to come away with a victory.”

Tracy’s mettle will be put to the test Thursday, as the Bulldogs welcome Lincoln to the Tracy High pool. JV action kicks off the matches at 3 p.m.

With two minutes left in the boys game, sophomore Michael Jesse hauled in a long pass from Devin Guardanapo, lifted the ball into the air as if to pass again, and instead rifled a shot past Franklin keeper Dennie Turner to break a 4-4 deadlock.

Tracy would score again, thanks to a Neil Thakor steal and a Kiel Smith shot with 11 seconds left, putting the exclamation point on a thrilling 6-4 win for the Bulldogs (3-2 SJAA).

The quick scores ended what had been a frustrating day for Tracy’s attackers.

“We had more chances in the first half that we didn’t put away,” Jesse said.

Indeed, Turner stoned Tracy shots all day long, and a fast Franklin transition got the better of the Bulldog defense for much of the game. And the Yellowjackets (0-4) had the lead with 4:06 left in the fourth quarter, thanks to a Jonathan Gatto strip of Tracy keeper Quintin Carey.

“They’re playing their hearts out everyday,” Goucher said of his Yellowjackets squad. “When that happens, you have good games.”

Another Jesse goal tied it up with 2:23 left, his shot hitting the water near Turner and slowly edging in past the goal line. Guardanapo had his own heroics, scoring two goals in 30 seconds of the first quarter to erase a 2-0 Franklin lead.

Thakor had three shots in quick succession blocked by Turner before Smith’s first goal gave Tracy a 3-2 lead.

Tracy coach Mike Woodward welcomed the new competition Goucher has brought to Franklin.

“I’m glad that they’re better,” he said. “It makes for a better game.”

Tracy will have to be on top of its game Thursday when the SJAA rival second-place Trojans come to town.

• To reach Sports Editor Christopher H. Roberts, call 830-4267 or e-mail croberts@tracypress.com.