VILLA PARK – Ask goalkeeper Sam Thompson what his proudest accomplishment is and he won’t miss a beat answering.
“The Foothill (High) game last year,” he said while talking before a recent practice at Villa Park High. “I think it might have been the lowest scoring game I ever played in.”
He struggles for the words when asked why.
“I just really liked it,” he said, rocking back on the bench and shrugging his shoulders. “It was pretty cool winning.”
Thompson has reason to be proud of that game – the 6-foot-8 goalkeeper’s 15 saves were a big reason the No. 10 Spartans upset No. 3 Foothill, 5-4, and claimed the Century League title.
In the 2013 season, Thompson compiled 204 saves and was named first team All-CIF. He enters this season third on Villa Park’s all-time saves list with 611.
This season he’ll anchor a defensive-minded Villa Park team that hopes to make waves in the new Crestview League and advance past last year’s campaign that ended in the CIF-SS quarterfinals.
“We have a lot of set guys,” Thompson said. “We have a really small team and I’d say a third of it are really strong set defenders that I’d be comfortable (with) anywhere in front of me.”
“We’re going to rely more on speed and counterattack hopefully,” agreed Villa Park coach John Carcich. “Our defense will lead into our counterattack, which has got to be a big part of our game this year. I think we’ll be known for more of a defensive team and counterattack team.”
For Thompson it will also be a season in which he prepares to take the step to the collegiate level. His size made him an attractive recruit to college coaches after his success in the high school and club water polo realms.
In the coming months, he’ll decide between George Washington University, Loyola Marymount, UC San Diego and University of the Pacific.
“Last year, first team All-CIF, league MVP; (he’ll be) a driving force this year,” predicted teammate Douglas Kang, a first team all-league selection in 2013. “He’s a beast.”
Thompson was nearly 6-7 when he arrived at Villa Park four years ago. Since then he’s put on about 30 pounds – difficult considering the amount of exercise he’s done between swim season in the spring and water polo in the fall.
He’s learned how to use his height to his advantage.
“Obviously it takes a while when you’re that height, I think, to grow into it,” Carcich said. “Now that he’s a senior, he’s really finding his size.”
Thompson – who took to goalie when he first started playing water polo in fifth grade – doesn’t mind dedicating hours of his week to the sport. This summer he trained four to five hours a day five days a week with One Water Polo Club in San Juan Capistrano.
But despite his progression to becoming one of the county’s top goalkeepers, Thompson admits he still battles with nerves before games. Last year’s match against Foothill was no exception.
“I remember specifically the whole game, the entire time, I just hated it because I was so scared that I was going to screw up and we were going to lose,” Thompson said. “I get so nervous before games.
“If I play bad it could make or break the game,” he continued. “If the goalie’s not blocking anything and everything’s going in, you’re probably going to lose.”
Contact the writer: 714-704-3796 or mhanlon@ocregister.com
