No. 1 El Toro rallies to win Villa Park Classic (video)

VILLA PARK - El Toro's top-ranked boys water polo team rallied from a two-goal deficit at halftime against No. 7 Villa Park to capture the Villa Park Classic with a 15-14 victory Saturday.

In a rare night match at Villa Park, the Chargers (13-0) trailed, 10-8, after two periods but outscored the Spartans, 5-2, in the third period to take control.

Villa Park's Scott Brush scored two man-advantage goals in the final 1:30 of the fourth quarter, but El Toro ran out the final 21 seconds.

The Chargers, ranked No. 1 in CIF-SS Division I, captured the South Coast Tournament the previous weekend.

“It's a tribute to the hard work of the guys, but I do have some talented players,” El Toro coach Don Stoll said. “(Playing) Villa Park at Villa Park is always a barn-burner.”

El Toro senior Griffin White scored a match-high six goals and added four steals en route to being selected tournament MVP.

All-tournament selection Russell Renteria and Jeff Zaccaro each added three goals apiece for the Chargers.

El Toro led, 13-12, going into the fourth period. White extended the lead to 14-12 on a goal off a drive to set and cross pass from Zaccaro.

Renteria, a sophomore center, then scored on a backhander with 2:04 left to give the Chargers a 15-12 lead.

Renteria sat out the second period because of foul trouble. In El Toro's 9-8 semifinal victory against Santa Barbara, he scored five goals.

Stoll said one another factor against Villa Park (12-3) was a defensive adjustment. In the second half, El Toro switched from a help-side defense to a straight press.

El Toro goalie Tommy O'Connell, also an all-tournament selection, finished with 14 saves.

Dillon Fisher paced Villa Park with four goals. Brush and Josh Samuels each added three.

El Toro played Saturday without standout junior Nick Rascon, who picked up a brutality in the quarterfinals.

Villa Park edged Northern California power Sacred Heart, 9-8, in overtime in the semifinals. Fisher scored the winning goal at center with 56 seconds left.

Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com