IRVINE – Foothill’s boys water polo team found another championship formula Saturday afternoon in the CIF-SS Division 2 finals.
Or maybe it was a blend of forces that united the top-seeded Knights for their match against No. 3 seed Los Osos of Rancho Cucamonga.
Whether the spark was redemption or selfless team play, Foothill claimed its third CIF-SS crown under Coach Jim Brumm by sinking the Grizzlies, 10-7, at the Woollett Aquatics Center.
The Knights (25-6) fell in the 2013 Division 2 final to Agoura but emerged over the summer as the team to beat this fall. They opened an early 4-1 lead against Los Osos (18-10) and never were caught.
“Last year, we walked away and were like, ‘We just really want to win (this year),’” said Foothill senior Billy Cranshaw, who scored twice and had five steals. “That has been a goal the whole season, all through swim season (last spring).”
Foothill’s defense helped make it a reality. Facing a Los Osos team coming off consecutive CIF Division 4 titles, Foothill made some of his biggest plays in the third period on defense.
Center Gavin Scott made one of the biggest by blocking a power-play shot in the field in the middle of the third to protect a 6-5 lead with about four minutes left. About a minute later, Scott also drew a backcourt turnover against the Grizzlies that Cranshaw turned into a goal and 7-5 lead.
Foothill’s Chas Hornecker scored on a counterattack to extend the lead to 8-5 with 2:26 left in the third but the Knights never stopped working on defense.
Sophomore goalie Arash Izadmanesh capped the third by blocking a counterattack chance by Joseph Galgani from about 5 meters with 2 seconds left. The block, which Izadmanesh said hit off his face, protected an 8-6 lead.
“Big play. He had a great game,” Los Osos coach David Merryman said of Izadmanesh, who finished with 13 saves.
Foothill sealed its first CIF title since 2008 thanks to six more saves by Izadmanesh in the fourth and steals from Austin Donoghue, Cranshaw, Hornecker and Bobby Lee.
Steals by Donoghue and Cranshaw led to a center strike by Scott and a perimeter goal by Lee as Foothill took control in the fourth.
Brumm said his team’s commitment to defense reflected its selflessness.
“Defense is team,” Brumm said. “I do think the kids are unselfish and they played together as a unit.”
Foothill also featured balance on offense. Cranshaw, Scott, Hornecker and Mike Miller each scored twice as the Knights netted all even-strength goals.
“I think the key thing about this team was their depth,” Brumm said.
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
