Pirates take third place at SoCal Regionals
GLENDORA -- For the first time in recent memory, the Orange Coast College men's water polo team posted a solid victory in the third-place game of the 2014 Southern California Regional Championships, topping L.A. Valley, 20-18, on Saturday afternoon at Citrus College.
Coast (18-12) opened the SoCal regional with a solid win against host Citrus, 16-14, setting up another showdown with conference-rival Golden West in the championship semifinals.
The Rustlers, eventual champions of the regional, opened up a big first-half lead, then cruised to an 18-6 win, sending the Pirates to a third-place matchup with the Monarchs (20-6).
After both teams scored five first-period goals, LAVC used a 6-1 second period to grab an 11-6 lead at the half.
But the Pirates came back with a big third period, outscoring the Monarchs, 9-3, to take a 15-14 advantage into the final period.
Both teams went back and forth, but in the end, the strong play of Jake Davis (eight goals, one assist) and the rest of the Pirates were too much for the Monarchs to overcome.
Trent Hayes added four goals, one assist, one block and one steal for the Pirates, while Scott Brush chipped in with three goals, one assist and one steal.
Other Coast stats included Josh Hayashi (two goals, one assist, one steal), Jake Ousten (two goals, three assists), Dillon Avila (one goal, two assists, one steal) and goalie Massimo Navarretta (10 saves).
For the Monarchs, Giorgi Kartvelishvilli led the way with eight goals.
