Wednesday’s CIF-SS boys water polo semifinals
DIVISION 2
VENTURA (19-5) vs. SANTA MARGARITA (24-7)
Site, time: Woollett Aquatics Center, 5 p.m.
Outlook: The unseeded Cougars, the third-place team from the Channel League, upset second-seeded Agoura in the quarterfinals, 8-7, to reach their first semifinal 2006. Third-seeded Santa Margarita rides an eight-game winning streak into its first semifinal. Under first-year coach Jeremy Laster, an Olympian who starred at San Clemente and Stanford, the Eagles finished third in the Trinity League. They are led by goalie junior Noah Hodge, who racked up 13 saves, four assists and scored a goal in the quarterfinals against Palos Verdes. Brock Petersen, another junior, leads the team in goals (94) and assists (75). Santa Margarita, champions of the Villa Park and Steve Pal tournaments, feature only one senior: 2-meter man Jack Baumgardner.
