Los Alamitos can't hold off Miramonte's second-half charge
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Los Alamitos' boys water polo team went to halftime Saturday night tied against arguably the most talented team in the state.
But in the third period, Miramonte of Orinda separated itself with three consecutive goals and went to defeat the Griffins, 6-4, in the finals of the S & R Sport Invitational at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center.
Los Alamitos coach Dave Carlson was pleased that the Griffins (16-2) hung close with Miramonte (12-0). The Matadors played without U.S. junior player Tommy Briskey but still showed a strong defense and a balanced offense.
“They're really good,” Carlson said of Miramonte, the first Northern California squad to capture 15-year-old tournament.
Carlson said the match also showed the Griffins what they need to improve.
The man-advantage stuck out in the finals. Los Alamitos, ranked second in Orange County, finished 1 for 8 with the extra attacker. One of its costliest misses came in the pivotal third.
Trailing 4-2, Carlson called timeout after Austin Trinkle drew an exclusion. Los Alamitos sprung Trinkle for a good center-cage look but goalie Jon Sibley knocked down the shot from about 5 meters.
Miramonte center James Perry then scored from 2 meters on the ensuing possession as the Matadors opened a 5-2 lead with 2:11 left in the third. “Two-goal turnaround,” Carlson said. “It was significant.”
The Griffins' cut their deficit to 5-3 with 4:13 left in the fourth on their only extra-man conversion – a goal by Joe Ferretti. But the teams then traded goals in the final minutes.
Five different players scored for the Matadors. U.S. junior player James Perry led the way with two. “It's a really big deal for NorCal and especially our school to win this tournament,” senior Siri Stephen said.
Briskey missed the match because of a misconduct for over-aggressive play in an 8-7 victory against Coronado in the semifinals.
Los Alamitos led 1-0 and 2-1 in the first half on perimeter goals from Trinkle. The Griffins held Miramonte to 1 for 5 effort on the man advantage. Los Alamitos played without starter Ryan Fattal (broken nose).
In the third-place match:
No. 3 Foothill 9, Coronado 6:Clayton McFadden and Paul Pickell each scored four goals to lead the Knights (12-4), who bounced back from an 8-6 loss to Los Alamitos in the semifinals.
In the fifth-place match:
No. 5 Newport Harbor 12, Harvard-Westlake 11 (OT):Blake Kelly's fifth goal, with 1:08 left in overtime, lifted the Sailors (10-5).
In the seventh-place match:
No. 9 Servite 12, No. 7 Corona del Mar 11:Cruz Smithson scored seven goals as the Friars (7-9) outscored the Sea Kings, 6-2, in the second half.
In the Estancia Tournament:
Los Amigos 8, Costa Mesa 7:Dario Torres scored four goals in the final to lead the Lobos (11-5).
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
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