The cross-cage lob shots from Chandler Lord at the short wing floated effortlessly through the air and into the far corner of the goal.
Perimeter attempts at the point by Tanner Henkhaus and the deeper flat from Nick VanSteenhuyse produced direct hits.
The powerful right hand of Andrew Kim hoisted the ball well above the defense at 2 meters before slamming a shot into the net.
Troy’s boys water polo team shot so well in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 4 playoffs Thursday, Chadwick of Palos Verdes Peninsula coach and noted strategist Robert Lynn had to concede the credit due the Warriors.
“They were hitting,” the ex-U.S. Olympic men’s coach said of Troy, which used a barrage of shots to post a 17-9 victory against Chadwick at Fullerton College to reach Saturday’s quarterfinals against third-seeded Santa Monica.
Chadwick (11-13) started with a drop defense but moved to a press, but neither strategy slowed the Freeway League champions (19-10), who scored four of their eight perimeter goals in the first period.
Lord finished with a match-high five goals and Kim added three second-half strikes from center. Henkhaus, VanSteenhuyse and Steven Solis each finished with two goals.
Goalie Warren Allen anchored the defense with 14 saves in three periods.
Troy coach Jason Wilson said his team practiced shooting at Fullerton College on Tuesday and Wednesday because work is being done on Troy’s pool. The practice showed, but there was another element at work, too.
“We were trying to ride the storm from what we did against Sonora,” said Wilson, referring to Troy’s fast start in the finals of the Freeway League carousel.
In Division 2:
Foothill 13, Ventura 3: Mike Miller scored five goals to lead the host Knights (25-2), who play El Toro in the quarterfinals.
El Toro 14, Palos Verdes 6: Chad Nelson had five goals and Aaron Leighton added three goals and three assists to lead the host Chargers (21-9).
Dana Hills 18, Redondo 4: Bennett Williams and Jack McLaughlin each scored four goals at San Juan Hills to lead the Dolphins (23-6), who will play Los Osos in the quarters.
In Division 6:
Kennedy 24, San Bernardino 7: Akili Allen scored six goals and Sebastian Benales netted five to lead the visiting Fighting Irish (18-11), who next face defending champion Malibu. Segerstrom, last season’s runner-up, beat visiting Elsinore, 26-7.
