LO boys, girls likely one win from CCS
MORGAN HILL
Rachel Cretcher did not know Wednesday’s match against Lincoln was her Senior Day until the night before. Her final water polo season at Live Oak High School is going by fast.
It has been much different than the past three. During that time, Cretcher and classmates Priscilla Orona and Amber Acevedo talked about winning Blossom Valley Athletic League titles, upsetting Leland and breaking through the Central Coast Section semifinals; private schools be darned. Cretcher, a skillful hole set with no respect for gravity or physics, compiled the bulk of a sparkling resume that will likely land her in a college pool next year.
Now, after smiling their way through a 19-9 victory over the Lions, Cretcher, Acevedo and Orona are trying to make their senior season last a couple more games.
“It’s been a completely different experience, but it’s been a lot of fun,” said Cretcher, who strengthened her Mount Hamilton Division MVP candidacy Wednesday with 11 goals and two assists — and she spent most of the fourth quarter passing up shots so her teammates could score. “The struggles we’ve had to win games will stand out to me. We did a lot better than I thought we were going to. The younger girls improved so much.
“I’m definitely happy. I just hope we can make the playoffs.”
That the Acorns (3-2 league) will earn no worse than a No. 4 seed for BVALs — one victory from securing an invite to the Division II sectional, one loss from calling it quits — is a minor miracle considering the senior class they graduated last summer. Many of their players are wrapping up their first season of varsity water polo, or water polo in general.
This fall, the team welcomed two new coaches in Sara Crusinberry and Claire Grissom. Their first practice drew three players.
“We’re extremely pleased with the way things turned out,” Crusinberry said. “The seniors really helped this team along. They showed good leadership as far as work ethic and coming to practice, being on time. They even helped us coach.”
The Acorns did not draw as many fans as for past Senior days, but they did put on a show. Orona looked ready for softball season with her cross-court feeds, Acevedo made several defensive stops and back-side cuts to open up passing lanes, and Marissa Sendejas and Kelsey White showed that the program will be in good hands again next year. The goal-scorers included, Ashley Jenkins, Victoria de los Santos, Morgan Teddleton, White and Orona — Sendejas and Acevedo had two apiece.
“Everyone brought a lot of energy. That was the best part,” Orona said.
Then there was Cretcher. With fluid poise, she scored five times on turnaround backhands, three times on lob shots over the Lincoln (0-5) goalkeeper and knifed a shot through three defenders and the goalie in the third quarter. The waterline was below her waist when she rose up to block a shot with one hand during the second.
“She could probably start for the boys team,” one observer has said.
Grissom knew Cretcher was special the day she met her.
“She’s very experienced. She just has an amazing handle for the game,” Grissom said. “I hope we can make the playoffs for her and the other seniors.”
Cretcher very well knows when that opportunity will come: Nov. 4 at home in a BVAL Tournament semifinal.
“I’m pretty sure we’ll make it,” she said. “I’d be really happy. This season would be a success.”
Wednesday was equally big for the Live Oak boys water polo team, which beat Willow Glen 12-11 in San Jose to remain in a three-way tie for second place in the Mount Hamilton.
Saul Orona scored six goals, Danny Robinson had four and Daniel Enriquez two for the Acorns (3-2), who withstood a late rally on Senior Night at Willow Glen.
“We were able to hold it together and win, which was tremendous for our guys,” Live Oak coach Mack Haines said. “We had some critical moments where we were about to hit the panic button. It was a huge win.”
Unfortunately for the Acorns, they may get the short end of the stick in the BVAL Tournament seedings. The tie-breaker is goal differential, and Haines is confident his team will receive the No. 4 seed and not earn a free pass to the semifinals at Live Oak High School.
The preliminary rounds will be played at Willow Glen.
“It takes away from the big win we had,” Haines said. “Nothing is certain yet. We can only hope for the best.”
The Acorns could open the tournament against Sobrato again; Live Oak beat the Bulldogs last year at Willow Glen to clinch a playoff spot. The winner will face the top-seeded Leland Chargers, who defeated Sobrato 15-7 Wednesday to finish 5-0.
Adam Jasper scored four goals to lead the Bulldogs (1-4).
