Pirates clamp down on Gauchos, win 21-6
COSTA MESA -- With a nice combination of offensive depth and suffocating defense, the Orange Coast College men's water polo team took care of business on Wednesday with a 21-6 Orange Empire Conference win over visiting Saddleback College.
After a rough start to the 2014 season, the Pirates (12-7 overall, 4-0 in OEC) have won seven straight matches by a combined score of 98-54.
In the win over the Gauchos (6-10, 0-4), Coast struck first with goals by Garret Glore and Wyatt Ferris, before Saddleback tied the score up with a pair of goals, the tying tally coming with 2:19 left in the opening period.
That, however, would be the last of any Gaucho highlights as the Pirates held Saddleback without another goal for the next 2 1/2 periods, jumping out to an 18-2 lead along the way. Finally, with 4:20 left in the FOURTH period, the Gauchos found their third goal of the contest.
Ferris led the way with three goals as eight different players turned in multi-goal performances. Glore, Scott Brush, Joshua Hayashi, Tim Polman, Matthew John, Bailey Harris and Taos Cadarette each added two goals, while single goals were turned in by Connor Farris, Matt Shrout, Dillion Avila and Jake Davis.
OCC goalies Luis Martinez and Maath Brodsky combined for six saves, while the Pirate defense took care of the rest.
The Pirates will return to action on Friday against Cerritos at the Golden West Tournament (played at Cerritos College), beginning at 2:30 p.m.
