ORANGE – Storylines about who wasn’t in the pool were plentiful Thursday as Mater Dei’s top-ranked boys water polo team opened the Trinity League against No. 6 Orange Lutheran at Santiago Canyon College.
The Monarchs made the match about execution.
Mater Dei went 5 for 6 on the man-advantage and forced nine turnovers in the third period en route to a 13-7 victory.
Thomas Dunstan, Will Lapkin and Sean Duncan each scored twice on Mater Dei’s power play, which converted on its first four chances to help the Monarchs (11-1, 1-0) open a 5-3 lead at halftime.
Mater Dei outscored Orange Lutheran, 4-1, in the third period behind a defense that forced errant passes and held the Lancers (10-5, 0-1) without a shot for the first 3½ minutes.
Goalie Nolan Strout helped anchor Mater Dei’s defense with nines saves.
Dunstan, Jack Seybold and Duncan each finished with three goals for Mater Dei.
Orange Lutheran played without standout lefty Ash Molthen, who served the first game of a two-game suspension for violating the CIF Southern Section’s rules on outside competition by playing for the U.S. national team Saturday.
The Lancers also played much of the match without Hannes Daube, who was in foul trouble. Dunstan drew the final two exclusions against Daube, who fouled out with one goal with 2:08 left in third.
Matt Kacura and Josh Orrick each scored twice for the Lancers, who went 5 for 11 with the extra attacker.
