WEDNESDAY’S BOYS WATER POLO SEMIFINALS
DIVISION 1
LOYOLA (24-4) vs. MATER DEI (27-2)
Site, time: William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center, 7 p.m.
Outlook: The fourth-seeded Cubs added some major intrigue to this clash even before the playoff draw arrived. On Oct. 28, Loyola edge Mater Dei, 8-7, at USC to trim the Monarchs’ lead in the season series to 2-1. With Mater Dei’s season-series win already in place and Loyola the runner-up Harvard-Westlake in league, the loss didn’t shake up the top seedings but showed this one won’t be easy for the Monarchs. Mater Dei has excelled in the semifinals since its Division 1 debut in 2010. The Monarchs are 5-0, including victories against Loyola in 2013 and 2011. Loyola is 0-6 all-time in Division 1 semifinals and seeking its first trip to a section final.
Albano’s prediction: Mater Dei
Related: Inside O.C. Water Polo Podcast semifinal preview
