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Dan Albano. Sports HS Reporter.

// MORE INFORMATION: Staff Mug Shot taken August 26, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER.

WEDNESDAY’S CIF BOYS WATER POLO SEMIFINALS

DIVISION 2

No. 3 seed Los Osos of Rancho Cucamonga (17-9) vs. No. 2 seed Dana Hills (20-10)

Site, time: Woollett, 5 p.m.

   Outook: The Dolphins defeated Los Osos, 16-14, in mid-October to emerge as serious Division 2 contenders. The South Coast champs feature one of the best 1-2 combinations in the Southern Section in senior Marko Asic and Bennett Williams, a junior. Williams has 124 goals while Asic 97. If Asic and Williams are both on, the Dolphins are going to force teams to score a ton to keep up. The major question for Dana Hills this week is whether they can capture a CIF championship on offense alone. Five opponents this month alone have reached double-digits goals against Dana Hills. Goalie Riley Zachary has nearly 400 saves for the county lead but faces a lot of shots. Los Osos captured Division 4 last season. The Grizzlies return All-CIF picks Tommy Halverson and Austin Stewart.

   Albano’s predicted winner: Dana Hills 

No. 1 seed Foothill (23-6) vs. No. 4 Mira Costa of Manhattan Beach (25-6)

Site, time: Woollett, 6:30 p.m.

   Outlook: The Knights’ redemption tour continues against last season’s Division 3 champion. Foothill, last season’s Division 2 runner-up to Agoura, has lost only three games in October and November. The combined margin in the three games was four goals, and the Knights avenged one of the losses against Coronado. Foothill’s strength is its balance. The Knights again don’t feature a major standout but are solid at 2 meters with Gavin Scott, deep with sharp-shooting attackers and play strong defense. Junior Mike Miller and Chas Hornecker pace Foothill in scoring with 72 and 69 goals, respectively. Perhaps the key to the Knights’ season has been the emergence of sophomore goalie Arash Izadmanesh, who has 260 saves. Mira Costa returns All-CIF picks Andrew Todd and Ed Jeon.

   Albano’s predicted winner: Foothill