Pirates open conference play with solid win over Dons
COSTA MESA -- The Orange Coast College men's water polo team picked up win No. 1 in the Orange Empire Conference with a 21-7 victory over visiting Santa Ana on Wednesday afternoon.
After three hard-fought matches up north, the Pirates (1-3, 1-0 in OEC) returned to the friendly waters of the OCC Swim Complex and jumped all over the Dons (3-4, 0-1), taking a 6-0 lead after the first period.
Freshman Jake Davis picked up two of his five goals in the opening period, while teammates Scott Brush, Garret Glore, Taos Cadarette and Wyatt Ferris each added single goals in the opening eight minutes.
Santa Ana came up strong in the second period and trimmed the deficit to 6-2 with back-to-back goals by Nima Kashani and Jeremy Scharf in the opening two minutes.
But Coast finished strong and closed things out with five unanswered goals -- two by Davis, and one each by Cadarette, Brush and Trent Hayes.
The Pirates extended their lead to 15-2 in the third period with four straight goals by Davis, Ferris, Dillon Avila and Bailey Harris.
The fourth period showcased the Pirate depth as a pair of goals by Tim Polman and Matthew John helped keep the Pirates comfortably out in front.
Davis finished finished with five goals to lead the Pirates, while Kashani anchored the Dons' offense with five goals of his own.
Goalkeepers Luis Martinez (five saves) and Maath Brodsky (six saves) each played two periods of action and both played well for the Pirates.
The Pirates will return to action this weekend at the Mt. San Antonio College Tournament, beginning on Friday at 9:10 a.m. against fellow OEC opponent, Saddleback. Coast will play again on Friday at 4:10 p.m. against Citrus to complete pool-play action. The tournament will conclude on Saturday.
