In a scrappy Mount Hamilton Division showdown between the Live Oak and Sobrato boys water polo teams, the ball literally bounced the Acorns way.
The crosstown rivals, with some players who are teammates during club season, were tied at the end of the first quarter and halftime, and remained deadlocked with under one minute left to play. That’s when the Acorns got the bounce they needed.
After receiving a long outlet pass, David Molyneux fired a shot that hit squarely off of the cage crossbar and landed directly in front of a charging Josh Lloyd, who grabbed the rebound and gave Molyneux a second chance. He didn’t miss and his goal lifted the Acorns to a 7-6 victory Wednesday at Sobrato.
“This was a big game for us,” said Live Oak head coach Dylan Foster, whose Acorns improve to 2-1 inside the division. “It’s always important when it’s Sobrato on the other side. They are a great team and Dave (Letts) is such a great coach. We all know each other. It’s an emotional win.”
The Bulldogs (0-3 league) had a chance to send the game into overtime on their ensuing possession. Ironically, Jacob Pignone’s shot ticked off the crossbar and back into Sobrato hands. But on the restart, an offensive foul was whistled and stopped a possible game-tying shot from even happening.
The crossbar, though favorable to the Acorns, wasn’t as kind to the Bulldogs, who, on two consecutive possessions early in the fourth quarter, had shots ricochet off the post.
“We had a couple unfortunate bounces and Lucas had a nice move there at the end of the game, which the official called,” Letts said. “The kids have been fighting all year for me. They don’t give up and work hard during the games.”
Disciplined defense from both schools dictated the tempo of the game. Clear shots were valuable rarities, which made each opportunity that much more significant.
“We preach defense. The better defense you play, the better your offense can be,” Foster said.
Live Oak goalie Nick Hofmann had eight saves. Logan Mosher recorded six for the Bulldogs.
“This year our offense isn’t a powerful one, so we focus on defense,” Letts said.
Neither team led by more than one goal throughout the entire contest. Brandon Rossi gave Live Oak a 1-0 lead in the first period. Sobrato pulled even on a goal by David Markowski with 11 seconds left in the opening period.
Lucas Salem and Pignone registered goals in the second for Sobrato, while Alex Della Maggorie and Alex Rivera had Live Oak’s tallies to keep things all square at halftime.
Connor Bleeg set up Salem with a floating pass inside 2-meters, which Salem deposited for a 4-3 Sobrato advantage. One minute later, the Acorns beat the shot clock when Molyneux assisted Della Maggorie’s second of the day.
The Acorns took a turn in front with another a Molyneux conversion. On the Bulldogs ensuing trip down the pool, however, Salem evened it at 5-5. Pignone propelled Sobrato into a 6-5 lead late in the third. That gap only lasted 45 seconds into the fourth as Molyneux beat Mosher.
