Results tagged “water polo” from Pure Preps | High School Sports in the South Bay

The El Segundo girls water polo team had its 30-game Ocean League winning streak snapped when it fell to Santa Monica, 5-4, at the El Segundo Plunge on Tuesday.

El Segundo (10-12, 4-1) led, 3-2, going into the fourth quarter, but could not hold onto the lead.

The Eagles also had won 29 consecutive league games at home before falling to Santa Monica (10-7, 5-0), which is ranked seventh in CIF Division V and sits in first place, one game ahead of El Segundo, in league play.

"Streaks are made to be broken, now we just have to start over," El Segundo assistant coach George Harris said.

Julianne Allison had three goals and Colette Gulick added a goal for El Segundo. Haley Cox made eight saves for El Segundo.

"It was a defensive game all the way," Harris said. "We just need to be able to finish."

It finally happened.

The Torrance boys water polo team clinched its first CIF postseason berth with an 11-5 Ocean League victory over visiting Beverly Hills on Monday at the Torrance Plunge.

Ryan McDonald scored seven goals, four steals and three assists to lead Torrance (15-10, 5-4). Jordan Than made 10 saves for Torrance, including his fifth blocked five-meter shot of the season.

Nathan Bee added two goals, and Dennis Kalthoff and David Hirotsu also scored for Torrance, which clinched third place and has an excellent chance of adding another win Wednesday against winless Milken.

Coach Scott Peppard helped Torrance establish water polo at Torrance at 2002 and said this is a special day for Torrance, which beat Beverly Hills for the third time this season after getting swept in three matches last year.

"I started this program itself, so this is big for me," Peppard said. "The kids have worked hard, they never miss a workout and they do what's asked of them, most of the time. This is huge. It's nice to see all that hard work pay off."

El Segundo had its chance in boys water polo on Monday.

The Eagles held a two-goal lead at halftime before the wheels came rolling off in the second half of a 13-8 Ocean League loss at Santa Monica.

El Segundo watched as Santa Monica went on a 10-3 run in the second-half.

Beau Blacksten and Nic Curcio each scored three goals for El Segundo (15-7, 4-1), and Morgan Sommo and Max Reynolds also scored. But the match left Coach George Harris frustrated.

"In the first half, everything we asked the kids to do defensively, we did. It's just a Jekyl and Hyde deal," Harris said. "We got outscored 10-3 in the second half. No one's done that to us. And I hate to say it, but it wasn't as much Santa Monica as it was us. We're still an enigma. We just don't get it. But the sun will shine tomorrow. We know we can play with these guys, at least at home."

The first true shock of the South Bay boys water polo season rippled throughout the area as Palos Verdes dominated Mira Costa for a 9-5 Bay League victory on Tuesday.

Connor Virjee, pictured, scored four goals, and Palos Verdes rode a smothering pressure defense that left Mira Costa frustrated and off its game.

It is Palos Verdes' first win over the two-time defending Bay League champions since 2005, which is the last time the Sea Kings won the Bay League title.

It was especially sweet for Palos Verdes, which has been inconsistent during its nonleague schedule. Now the Sea Kings climbed back over .500 to a 7-6 record and a 2-0 league mark.

"This was kind of our coming-out game," Virjee said. "We've had a rough start this year, but I told the guys before the game this could make our season."

Indeed it can.

Mira Costa (11-4, 2-1) entered the match ranked No. 2 in CIF Southern Section Division IV. Palos Verdes was No. 6.

These two teams will have a rematch on Thursday, Oct. 30 at 3 p.m. at Miraleste Middle School in Palos Verdes.

If you listen to El Segundo boys water polo coach George Harris, he brings a certain doomsday attitude when talking about this year's team.

El Segundo might not have the same kind of team he's had in recent years when he has made CIF finals appearances, but the Eagles are still pretty darn good, as evidenced by a 13-12 overtime victory over visiting Chadwick in a rematch of last year's CIF Division VI semifinal, also won by El Segundo by one goal.

Beau Blacksten, pictured, scored two overtime goals and finished with three overall despite two ejections in the first quarter, and Max Reynolds scored four goals for El Segundo.

"At the beginning of the year, we would not have won this game, so we're improving," Harris said. "Close games, we were losing early in the season."

Harris liked El Segundo's 13-12 nonleague victory over Chadwick because it gave the Eagles a preview of what might be to come in a Pioneer League showdown on Monday against Torrance and star Ryan McDonald.

Chadwick also has a dominating player in Kurt Buchbinder, who scored 10 goals against El Segundo.

"Monday we go against McDonald. He's the same type of player as Buchbinder," Harris said. "We can't let one player dominate like that."

Today, they let one player dominate and lived to tell about it. But the Eagles can't make that a habit.

Usually the rivalries on the Palos Verdes Peninsula bring out some heated matches, and it was no different Tuesday.

And every once in a while, little Chadwick ascends to the top in these rivalries.

Kurt Buchbinder scored in the fifth overtime Tuesday to lead Chadwick to a 12-11 nonleague boys water polo win at Peninsula.

Peninsula's Nick Shariat scored with 35 seconds left to force overtime.

Joe Farrell led Chadwick (3-2) with five goals, and Buchbinder and Matty Gallas each had three goals. Shariat and Travis Larsen scored four goals each for Peninsula (5-4)