WALNUT – For the better part of three quarters, the Temescal Canyon boys water polo team used its vastly superior size and strength to muscle out the narrowest of advantages.
Segerstrom countered with speed in the final period, and the Jaguars surged to an 11-9 victory on Wednesday over the team from Lake Elsinore in a Division 6 semifinal match at Mt. San Antonio College.
Segerstrom (25-3) trailed by a goal entering the final period, but the Jaguars pitched a shutout during the final seven minutes of the match. Nick Navarro tied the score at 9-9 when he scored on the first possession of the period. Navarro and David Molina later added goals on man advantages to give the Jaguars the victory.
“I think ourt conditioning really was a factor in that final period,” Segerstrom coach Tim Frederickson said. “Temescal Canyon is much bigger than we are, and they used that to their advantage at the beginning. But as their legs leg started to get tired, I think we were able to turn the tables and find a way to pull back in front.”
Segerstrom will face Malibu in the Division 6 final on Saturday at Woollett Aquatics Center. The time will be announced Wednesday by the Southern Section.
Temescal Canyon (18-13) was called for 17 exclusions, including three that led to penalty shots. Segerstrom took full advantage, scoring six times in those situations, two from the 5-meter spot.
“Segerstrom won every hustle play tonight,” Temescal Canyon coach Damien Andrews said. “And we made too many careless turnovers in our own end, and we ended up fouling them and getting excluded. You can’t keep doing that and expect to win.”
Logan Gallagher and Tyer Stabel scored goals during the final minute of the first period to give Temescal Canyon the 4-3 lead. Segerstrom converted three power plays opportunities in the second period to pull ahead for a 6-5 advantage at halftime.
Segerstrom earned a penalty shot on the first possession of the third period, and Molina fired the ball into the back of the cage. The Jaguars would have had a bigger lead had it not been for the stellar work by Temescal Canyon goalkeeper Gabriel Thorne.
Segerstrom had a pair of one-on-one breakaways, but Thorne denied both. Thorne later saved a penalty in the fourth period.
“The offense was struggling a little bit, so I knew I just had to do whatever it took to block those shots,” said Thorne, who finished with 11 saves.
Gallagher and Stabel scored a pair of goal to help the Titans draw even late in the third period, and Justin Gault fired home a shot from seven meters out with 10 seconds left in the period. That was the final Temescal Canyon goal.
Gallagher finished with five goals, and Stabel added three goal for the Titans.
Contact the writer: ejohnson@pressenterprise.com
