SATURDAY’S CIF-SS BOYS WATER POLO FINALS
All games at Woollett Aquatics Center, Irvine
DIVISION 1
Mater Dei (26-4) vs. Harvard-Westlake of Studio City (28-0), 5:30 p.m.
Outlook: The No. 2 seeded Monarchs and No. 1 Wolverines clash in the finals for the second consecutive November. Last season, Mater Dei went 3-0 during the regular season against Harvard-Westlake before falling in the Division 1 final, 9-6, to have its streak of five consecutive CIF titles snapped. This season, the Wolverines are 3-0 against the Monarchs entering the final, though the average margin of victory is only 2.7 goals. Mater Dei received a boost in the semifinals with the return of attacker Nick Lavayen from a thumb injury but the Monarchs still face a difficult task. The Wolverines are undefeated and have won 36 games straight overall. Harvard-Westlake is led by the imposing center duo of 6-foot-6 Ben Hallock and 6-foot-2 Raphael Raede and speedy attacker Johnny Hooper. But the Monarchs’ main struggle with the Wolverines has been on offense. Despite a strong counterattack, Mater Dei has averaged seven goals in the three games against Harvard-Westlake when it averaged 16.3 goals the rest of the season. Mater Dei’s leading scorer against the Wolverines has been freshman Jack Seybold with six goals (sophomore Evan Rosenfeld has six to lead the Wolverines). Harvard-Westlake goalie Anthony Ridgley averaged 11 saves in three games against Mater Dei for a slight advantage against the Monarchs’ Jonathan Van De Velde (8.7), a U.S. youth team keeper.
Albano’s prediction: Harvard
DIVISION 2
Los Osos of Rancho Cucamonga (18-9) vs. Foothill (24-6), 2:30 p.m.
Outlook: The top-seeded Knights make their second consecutive appearance in the Division 2 finals. Last season, they fell to a sizzling postseason juggernaut, Agoura, 11-5. But Foothill has been atop the Division 2 rankings since the preseason poll, which had Los Osos slotted second. The teams haven’t played this season or the previous three. The Grizzlies aren’t strangers to the CIF finals. They captured Division 4 titles in 2012-13 and have won 11 consecutive postseason games. Los Osos navigated the tougher course to the finals, edging Palos Verdes, 12-11, Dos Pueblos, 11-8, and No. 2 seed Dana Hills, 9-7, in the semifinals. Foothill’s strength is balance. Mike Miller leads the team with 74 goals but Chas Hornecker (71) and center Gavin Scott (60) aren’t far behind. Austin Stewart leads Los Osos with 87 goals.
Albano’s prediction: Foothill
DIVISION 3
Montebello (24-3) vs. Laguna Beach (24-6), 7 p.m.
Outlook: The top-seeded Breakers return to the finals for the first time since their Division 3 title season of 2011. Laguna Beach and third-seed Montebello don’t have much recent history. The teams last played in 2010 when Laguna Beach won, 17-11, at a Hank Vellekamp tournament game. The Breakers were the preseason No. 1 team in the division and haven’t budged thanks to a balanced and deep lineup. They feature three players with at least 60 goals in Cade Baldridge (95), Jack Dodson (65) and Jakob Colladay (63). Dodson also leads Laguna Beach in steals (55) and assists (40). The Breakers are 17-2 in their last 19 matches, losing only to Division 1 contenders Mater Dei and Loyola. Montebello’s Mario Moran scored in sudden-death overtime in the semifinals to lift the Oilers past No. 2 seed Murrieta Valley, 12-11.
Albano’s prediction: Laguna
DIVISION 6
Malibu (25-4) vs. Segerstrom (26-3), 10 a.m.
Outlook: It’s not easy moving up playoff divisions but the No. 2 seeded Jaguars are showing it can be done. After capturing the Division 7 title in 2013 in only its third season, Segerstrom returns to a second consecutive CIF final. The balanced Jaguars are led by center David Molina, a junior who comes off the bench, and junior defender Martin Madrigal. Segerstrom also relies on Seth Chavez and Nick Navarro in a starting lineup that doesn’t include a senior. Last season, top-seeded Malibu fell to a tough Palm Desert squad, 8-5, in the Division 6 final. The Sharks are making their fourth finals appearance in seven years but are seeking their first title. Owen Franz scored 10 goals for Malibu in a 19-9 victory against Beaumont in the semifinals. Goalie Dan Nittolo added 15 saves.
Albano’s prediction: Segerstrom
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
