Senior scores five goals in water polo team’s only league loss
MORGAN HILL With two weeks to prepare for the Blossom Valley
Athletic League Championship tournament, the boys and girls’ water
polo teams at Live Oak know what must be done to capture league
titles. On Tuesday both teams suffered close losses to perennial
league powerhouse Leland, giving a glimpse into what the Mount
Hamilton division championship games could look like.
Senior scores five goals in water polo team’s only league loss
MORGAN HILL
With two weeks to prepare for the Blossom Valley Athletic League Championship tournament, the boys and girls’ water polo teams at Live Oak know what must be done to capture league titles.
On Tuesday both teams suffered close losses to perennial league powerhouse Leland, giving a glimpse into what the Mount Hamilton division championship games could look like.
BOYS
Live Oak senior Sam Cretcher led all scorers with five goals in the last regular season game of his high school career as the Acorns’ lost 7-6 to Leland.
Within the first 30 seconds of play Live Oak senior Eric McCombs found himself alone with the Leland goalie off a fast break, but his hard thrown shot ricocheted off the left post and Leland gathered the rebound.
Acorns’ senior goalie Brandon Semintore blocked a shot at the 4:30 mark of the first quarter, and found junior Steven Rick down court for a scoring opportunity.
Rick’s shot was blocked by the Leland goalie, and both teams went back and forth for much of the quarter without scoring.
Live Oak Senior Alex Sennart scored the first goal of the game with 1:34 left in the quarter, but Leland capitalized on a penalty shot with less than 10 seconds remaining, evening the score 1-1.
Leland captured the lead with a goal early in the second quarter, but Cretcher answered back with a goal at the 5:45 mark evening the score at 2-2.
Cretcher stayed on the offensive and scored two more goals, one off of a rebound, in the final seconds of the quarter, giving Live Oak a 4-2 lead at the half.
Leland controlled the ball at the beginning of the second half, and both teams went scoreless for the first three minutes.
With 2:52 left in the third quarter Live Oak patiently worked the ball down to Cretcher, who lofted it over a defender and the goalie for another score.
Cretcher scored again, seconds later at the 2:28 mark, further extending Live Oak’s lead to 6-2.
Despite giving up a goal with 1:01 left in the third, the Acorns maintained their momentum and headed into the final quarter up 6-3.
The tide turned in favor of Leland, however, in the fourth quarter as the Chargers scored three straight goals evening the score 6-6.
Live Oak was unable to quell the Chargers surge led by Matt Eisenberg, who scored his fourth goal at the 2:18 mark to put his team back on top.
With two minutes left Live Oak scrambled for a goal, and played strong defense to keep Leland from further extending their lead.
As the clock ticked down into the last minute of action a Leland player stole the ball and broke down court towards the Live Oak goal.
Just before he could get a shot off, Sennart and Rick displayed their swimming speed to catch the Leland player and steal the ball back.
With possession of the ball and only 30 seconds left in the game, Live Oak head coach Mack Haines called a timeout to prep his team for one last attempt.
Freshman Danny Robinson got an open look at the goal with 12 seconds left but his hard shot hit off the right post, and Leland collected the rebound, held onto the ball and ran out the clock.
“We played great defense, but we had a couple of mental errors,” Haines said. “The momentum can shift and we let that happen. It’s tough to blame one person. We had opportunities to put the ball away, but that’s been an issue all year. But as far as playing an inspired game against a more physical team, we are right there.
The Acorns head into the BVAL championship tournament with a 4-1 division record.
“Tournament games count double, so if we make it to the championships we could still win league,” Haines said.
Cretcher was sad about playing his last regular season game, but happy with the way this season has gone and optimistic about playing in the future.
“We’re doing a lot better than I thought we would be doing, and it’s been a great experience playing in this program,” Cretcher said. “It’s a little sad that the season is winding down, but I’m going to try to play in college.”
The Acorns have until Nov. 1 when the BVAL tournament kicks off at the Live Oak pool, and Cretcher said his team will be prepared.
“This game was a good warm-up,” Cretcher said. “Now everyone knows who we have to beat. We going to stay prepared, and it’s actually good that we have time because we can just focus on Leland.”
GIRLS
Facing a four point deficit heading into the final quarter of action, the Live Oak girls water polo team gave Leland a scare but could not match the Chargers offensive output.
Live Oak scored three goals in the fourth quarter but dropped their last match of the regular season 4-6.
Katie Rick led the Acorns with two goals, while Sarah Sendejas and Orona each had one.
Despite the loss, seniors Shelby Carillo, Jessica Poon and Alyssa Pinarbasi are optimistic about the playoffs and the future of the program.
“This game was empowering, because when you think about it, we’re pretty close to beating them,” Carillo said.
Carillo plans on attending San Jose State next year, and said she is thinking of playing for their girls water polo team.
Jessica Poon will be attending either U.C.L.A. or the University of San Diego next fall, and plans on swimming for whichever school she decides on.
In regards to the playoffs Poon is confident the Acorns can do well.
“We’re just going to do what we’ve been doing,” Poon said. “Our coaches are the best ever.”
Carillo added that the Acorns are vying for first place in the tournament, but are aware of the abilities of underdog teams like Pioneer.
Pinarbasi is heading for the University of Santa Cruz next fall, but in regards to the upcoming playoffs she said is looking forward to another match against Leland.
“As long as we keep solid we have a chance,” Pinarbasi said.
Freshman Rachel Cretcher said she has learned a lot from the three seniors.
“They’ve taught me so much, there’s too much to say, but more than anything they taught me how to play aggressive,” Cretcher said. “They are really fun to be around.”
