There’s no special pregame meal or video inspiring Dana Hills’ boys water polo team to one terrific first period after another.
“No real secret,” senior Bennett Williams said. “We’re just getting motivated and focused before the game and coming out with the right energy.”
Dana Hills delivered another sizzling start Tuesday against visiting El Toro in its South Coast League opener. This one was good enough to help the Dolphins survive a late surge by the Chargers.
Rising junior Jack McLaughlin and Williams each scored twice in the opening frame as No. 4 Dana Hills netted the first five goals en route to a 12-10 victory in a match that doubled as a Division 2 showdown.
Dana Hills (10-3, 1-0), the league’s three-time defending champion, rode its counterattack and efficient power play to take an 11-4 lead into the fourth period. No. 9 El Toro (7-3, 1-1) responded with five consecutive goals in the first 2:51 of the fourth to create a tempest final four minutes.
“You talk about that 5-0 lead and we win by two,” Dana Hills coach Matt Rosa said. “That’s a huge difference.”
Last week, Dana Hills, ranked second in Division 2, opened an 8-0 lead against Damien of La Verne en route to a lopsided victory. At the South Coast Tournament, the Dolphins scored the first five goals against Huntington Beach to capture fifth place.
But after El Toro’s blitz of fourth-quarter counterattacks, which included two goals by Chad Nelson, Dana Hills still needed a timely goal to calm the waters.
Bryce Dunn provided the anchor in the final minute. With El Toro transitioning early to offense in hopes of a counter, Dunn drew an exclusion at center before goalie Brandon Shields could steal the entry pass. James Daugherty then scored on the man-advantage, converting on a short pass from the wing by Kai Hanson to give the Dolphins a 12-9 lead with 36 seconds left.
McLaughlin, a junior, finished with a season-high six goals. and Riley Zachary added 14 saves for Dana Hills. Williams netted three to tie Marko Asic’s school-record for career goals (214).
“This is a good win,” Zachary said. “El Toro is always a big game. … And (it’s important) to know for the next time we play them .. (what) to practice to adjust to their defense.”
El Toro increased its press defense in the fourth quarter and sent one or two defenders to offense late in the shot clock to spark its counterattack. The Chargers almost trimmed Dana Hills’ lead to 11-10 but misfired on an open look.
“At least, I think, the fourth quarter shows what we are capable of … It was a little uplifting for the kids,” El Toro coach Justin Johnson said.
“One of the game plans for today was that we had to be very patient in the front-court (offense), very slow with how we attack, and limit their counterattack opportunities. And we did the exact opposite. We had plenty of turnovers, rushed shots.”
Also in the South Coast:
Mission Viejo 11, Tesoro 9: Taylor Enzi scored five goals and Richard Heo made 12 saves to lead the host Diablos (1-1).
In nonleague:
Segerstrom 11, Temescal Canyon of Lake Elsinore 7: David Molina scored six goals and Jose Barajas added four to lead the host Jaguars, ranked No. 1 in Division 6, past the No. 2 Titans (3-7). Goalie Brandon Carlos made seven saves for Segerstrom.
Huntington Beach 16, Montebello 9: Patrick Saunders made 15 saves at the Commerce Aquatorium to lead the visiting Oilers, who led, 7-1, after the first period.
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
