Despite a strong start, the Cypress boys water polo team could not hold down Ocean View, as the Centurions fell in a CIF-SS Division 6 playoff match, 10-7, last week at Ocean View High.
The Centurions scored the first goal and would end the first quarter trailing just 2-1, but Ocean View went on a 4-1 run in the second quarter and were able to keep the Centurions at bay down the stretch.
Six different players scored for Cypress, led by two goal by senior Ripken Saldana. Sooho Choi, Ben Navarro , Garrett Potter, Alberto Cortes and Nolen Verdun each scored a goal.
Early in the third, the Centurions would fall behind 7-3, but respond with a run of their own to cut into the Seahawk lead. Cortes would score his goal at the 3:30 mark of the third to cut the lead to 7-4.
After a Seahawk goal, Saldana would answer with just four seconds left in the quarter to again trim the lead to just three goals, at 8-5. Opening the fourth, Saldana would get his second goal at the 5:45 to cut the lead to 8-6.
Twenty seconds later, Potter would add his goal to cut the lead to 8-7. The Centruion defense held the Seahawk offense scoreless for about five-and-a-half minutes until the Seahawks were able to find the back of the net with 3:31 left in the match to push the lead back to 9-7. The Ocean View defense then held off Cypress to secure the victory.
Cypress ended the season with a 17-7 overall record and took third in the Empire League with a 3-2 mark. It was a solid season for a team that was bringing up a lot of young players to the varsity level.
“This year’s team was a very coachable team, taking to instruction and advice very well,” Head Coach Darren Sandvig said.
The team was led by senior co-captains Choi and Verdun, but had several young players step into significant roles, including a few freshmen. One was freshman Potter, who moved into the vital two-meter position. His development in that spot could bode well for the next few years of Cypress water polo.
“They meshed well and had a great rapport with each other,” Sandvig said. “Altogether, it was a fun season of play.”