Poly vs. Wilson 11.06.08

Press-Telegram
Long Beach, CA

WATER POLO:
By David Felton, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 11/06/2008 11:23:20 PM PST

LONG BEACH - From 1987 to 2005, the Moore League boys water polo championship resided at just one place - Wilson High. During that stretch, the Bruins won a slew of prestigious tournaments, several CIF Southern Section crowns and were a nationally recognized program.
That string was broken in 2006 by Poly, and Millikan claimed the league title last season, leaving some to wonder exactly what had happened to Wilson and whether the Bruins were still a factor in the Moore League, let alone Southern California.

Thursday afternoon Poly (14-12-1, 3-1) held a brief 1-0 lead on a goal by Dan Seagren and tied the game at 2 early in the second quarter on a 6-on-5 goal from Riley Wilson. But Wilson scored the next four goals to take control of the game. Junior Michael LaBounty had an assist and a goal during that stretch, Rick Dilday scored twice and Erik Vogelzang had an assist as well.

Poly was within striking distance at halftime, down 6-3, and cut the lead to two early in the third when Nick Lombardino put in a shot that rebounded off the cage. Lombardino scored again a minute later on a 6-on-5 situation to make the score 7-5, and Poly's supporters were in full throat.

But the Bruins scored the next two goals, including a 5-meter penalty shot by Daniel Tyner, and the Jackrabbits never got closer than three goals again.

Kennedy scored twice in the fourth and Dilday scored with 4:29 remaining when he hustled for a loose ball on the left side of the net and beat Poly keeper Anthony Gutierrez to the near post. The Bruins also scored twice in the fourth with the shot clock running out.

Ian Paice and Dillon Kruger each scored three times to lead the Jackrabbits. Paice scored twice in the fourth quarter on 5-meter penalty shots and Kruger scored a beautiful back-handed goal in the second that cut Wilson's advantage to 6-3 before halftime.

Gutierrez finished with 13 saves, including one off his face late in the third. He also made a terrific stop in the first quarter when LaBounty had a breakaway.