Mater Dei wins its first boys water polo title

IRVINE - Mater Dei’s boys water polo program completed a four-year voyage Saturday night with a championship-worthy performance.

Behind a relentless counterattack, stingy defense and efficient power-play units, the Monarchs became CIF water polo champions for the first time.

Goalie Colin Carroll made 10 saves and a trio of players scored two goals apiece as top-seeded Mater Dei defeated Trinity League rival Servite, 8-6, in the Division II final before an overflow crowd at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center.

The Monarchs (24-7) led 5-4 going into the fourth period but in the final seven minutes, netted a counterattack goal and drew an exclusion on another counter that led to a power-play goal.

Mater Dei converted both of its extra-man chances in the fourth to finish 5 of 6. Center Nathaniel Caulum drew four of the exclusions in the match.

The Monarchs’ defense held unseeded Servite (20-14) to a 2 for 8 effort on the man advantage.

Mater Dei’s victory capped a quick ascent under fourth-year coach Chris Segesman. When the Olympian took the reins in 2005, the Monarchs had never won a postgame match.

On Saturday, they leaped into the pool as champions.

“I’m speechless,” Segesman, 29, said. “Really, it’s a credit to the kids. They put so much time in.”

Mater Dei’s counterattack kicked to the finish. Caulum scored on a breakaway in the first minute of the fourth to give Mater Dei a 6-4 lead.

Servite had a chance to respond but the Monarchs deflected a man-advantage shot by the Friars following a timeout with 5:32 left. Mater Dei them took a 7-4 lead as it converted a power-play chance coming out of a timeout about a minute later.

For the second time, Liam Gaughan found freshman Bret Bonnani for an extra-man goal.

“That was the difference (in the match),” Segesman said of the teams’ play on the power plays. “We played very well but they (Servite) controlled our counter.”

Caulum, Alex Wherry and Bonnani finished with two goals apiece for Mater Dei, which fell to Villa Park in last season’s Division II final. Derek Salvino and Nate Little each had two goals for Servite.

“I can’t complain how my kids played,” said Servite coach Mustafa Hassan, who squad won a league playoff match to qualify for the postseason. “No one picked us to be here.”

Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com