Foothill knocks off El Toro to claim Division I title

IRVINE - Foothill's boys water polo team didn't let its late-season burst fade.

If anything, the Knights increased their energy level a few more levels Saturday night for their CIF-SS Division I showdown against Sea View League rival El Toro.

And in the end, top-seeded Foothill emerged with its first section title since 1995 by defeating the second-seeded Chargers, 8-6, in front 2,700 at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center.

Foothill (24-7) scored the first four goals and didn't allow El Toro (29-3) to score until 2.7 seconds left in the first half. The Knights led by five goals with just under six minutes left in the fourth period but the Chargers answered with a flurry to make the score closer. El Toro drew to 8-6 with 1:58 left in the fourth.

Foothill's burst started with an 11-10 upset of El Toro in the league title match Nov. 5. As it turned out, that overtime victory sparked the Knights to a section title.

“That was the main factor in our win today - confidence,” Foothill senior Paul Pickell said. “That was the only reason we won today - because we were fully confident in ourselves.”

Prior to beating El Toro in league, Foothill's season had been solid but by its standards, up-and-down.

“We got on a nice roll,” Foothill coach Jim Brumm said. “These kids believed in each other.”

Foothill goalie Jay Lovero had a career-high 23 saves in the league match and the senior made his presence felt quickly in the final. He took the first shot from El Toro - a hard attempt by Russell Renteria - off the nose but hardly seemed to flinch. Lovero made five saves in the first period and finished with 14.

“We wanted it more,” Lovero said. “Nothing was going to change that.”

In taking a 4-0 lead, Foothill scored twice on counterattacks and twice on the man advantage. Center Brenden Verloop scored two of the Knights' three extra-man goals in the match. Conor Golden also added two goals for the Knights, including a strike from center with 11 seconds left in the third that gave Foothill a 6-2 lead.

The Knights did some of their key damage in the final minute of the third. After El Toro drew within, 4-2, Paul Reynolds scored essentially an empty-net, man advantage goal with 49 seconds left after El Toro keeper Tommy O'Connell was excluded. Golden scored next.

“My guys played hard, they came back,” El Toro coach Don Stoll said. “They didn't play enough defense to win it.”

Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com