Mater Dei’s boys water polo team didn’t solve rival Harvard-Westlake of Studio City on Tuesday night, but Orange County’s top-ranked squad still maintained its resolve after losing, 11-7, in an emotionally charged match at Harvard-Westlake.
Center Ben Hallock and attacker Johnny Hooper each scored three goals and Anthony Ridgley added 10 saves to help No. 1 Harvard-Westlake take the match between the top two teams in the the CIF-SS Division 1 rankings.
Mater Dei attacker Matt Payne scored three goals, but the Wolverines (16-0) defeated the Monarchs (12-3) for the third consecutive game, including last season’s Division 1 final.
Mater Dei never led and trailed by six goals at one point, but the Monarchs were a man-advantage conversion away in the middle of the second of tying the score, 4-4.
Mater Dei didn’t capitalize on the chance and Harvard-Westlake added on two counterattack strikes before half. The Wolverines lead grew to 10-4 in the third.
Mater Dei coach Chris Segesman watched the final 1 1/2 periods from the stands after receiving a red card for arguing with the officials. The ex-Olympian departed with his team trailing, 8-4.
Moments later, Hallock swam the ball into Mater Dei’s net for a goal and a dominating play rarely seen in water polo.
“We played a really good game. I’m excited about it,” Segesman said. “We had our opportunities. … I think our guys competed. The referees allowed a very physical game today and that tends to favor Harvard-Westlake, but we responded. I’m fine with it.”
Mater Dei finished 3 for 9 on the man-advantage while Harvard-Westlake went 3 for 6.
“We got to fix a few things,” Segesman said. “When you make some mistakes at certain points when you can tie the game on the 6-on-5, and they go two quick counterattack goals, that’s a killer. .. I think we fix a few things, and we’ll be right in there. Hopefully, we can get them when we play them next time.”
Ridgley made spectacular back-to-back saves at close range early in the second to spark Harvard-Westlake, which also beat Mater Dei in the finals of the Santa Barbara tournament last month.
“We’re really excited,” Hallock said of his team’s streak against Mater Dei. “(But) by no means are we where we want to be at.”
Mater Dei goalie Jonathan Van De Velde made three of his seven saves against the power play, and Connor Talleur added two goals for Mater Dei.
For the highly-anticipated match, Harvard-Westlake brought in extra bleachers for its student cheering section, which chanted throughout the game. “I thought the fans for Harvard-Westlake were unbelievable,” Segesman said. “They were exciting and created a great atmosphere. …I’m excited (how) my team responded, especially after last week and with what happened against Long Beach Wilson.”
Said Hallock, “That was the most wild, excited, enthusiastic crowd I’ve ever played in front of. It was amazing.”
Segesman said he will not be able to coach Thursday against Servite because of the red card.
In other matches:
In the South Coast League:
No. 8 Dana Hills 11, San Clemente 8: Marko Asic and Bennett Williams each scored three goals to lead the visiting Dolphins (9-8, 4-0), who overcame seven goals by Chase Hamming.
In the Sea View League:
Capistrano Valley 11, Aliso Niguel 10: Austin Sechrest scored four goals and Jacob Rendina added three for the host Cougars (13-8, 4-0), who won the clash of ranked teams in Division 3. Capistrano Valley overcame 12 exclusions, including a 3 on 6 advantage for the Wolverines. “We just kind of fought through,” Cougars coach Steve Yancey said. “I thought we did an exceptional job to play good enough defense on extra.”
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
