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Water Polo
Wins League... And Reaches CIF Finals
by Spencer Green, Sports Writer
The first day of
November was an especially important day for the ESHS water polo
team, as this was the day of the Ocean League playoffs. November 1
meant the last league home game of the season, and the last game in
which the seniors would get to play water polo at their beloved
Plunge as high school students. A celebratory mood pervaded the
building as the pre-game rituals commenced, including each of the
senior players giving their mothers bouquets of flowers. Rituals
completed, it was now time for the Eagles to get into the game, so
to speak.
As the Eagles players lined up on the wall, getting
ready for the game to start, the Plunge began to fill with
excitement and spectators. The stands filled to a capacity rarely
achieved, seeming as if the entire town had shown up to watch.
Despite powering home a goal early, SAMO was kept on the defensive
the entire game. The first half ended at 2-1, El Segundo. In the
third period, each side earned another goal. Finally, in the fourth
quarter things began to get exciting as El Segundo got another goal,
and SAMO gained two, tying the game at 4-4. Luckily for the Eagles,
though, senior Alex Heck was able to pound home the final goal of
the game, making the final score 5-4, El Segundo. Scoring for the
Eagles was done by Heck and Jeff Volosin with two goals apiece. Matt
Pittluck and Woody Lindsey had one each. This victory earned El
Segundo the Ocean League Championship title, and a perfect season to
boast about.
After earning their league championship, the Eagles got
ready for their first CIF game. Although it was considered a home
game for the Eagles, the game did not take place at the Plunge. This
was due to the fact that the Plunge doesn't meet the CIF
requirements of having an all-deep pool; the Plunge has a shallow
end, and is therefore unsuitable for CIF. So instead, the Eagles
traveled to Mira Costa High School, their home pool away from home.
Competing against the Eagles was the Colony High School Titans. The
game was in the bag for the Eagles, as they scored seven goals in
the first half, compared to the one that Colony snuck in. By the end
of the third, the score was 14-3, with the Eagles holding their lead
against the Titans. By the time it was all over, the score was 17-5.
Seven of the Eagles players scored in that game. These scorers were
Joey Gumina, Jake Mark, and Contarsy, each with one goal; Beau
Blacksten with two; Pittluck and Heck with three each; and Volosin
with six. This triumphant victory was the first stepping stone in
the CIF path.
After their victory at Costa, the Eagles hopped back on
the bus to go to Santa Ana High School on Friday, November 10. After
an exciting first half, the Eagles had three goals and the Saints
had two. The first three goals were all powered home by Heck, giving
him an early hat trick. The third period was over with a goal for
each team; the goal for the Eagles was accomplished by Contarsy. The
game became even more intense as the Saints rammed home a goal, thus
tying the score at 4-4. But the Eagles were not done fighting, and
they proved it as Volosin thrust home two quick shots into the
Saints' cage. The Saints countered with another goal, but the period
ended, and the Eagles had won. The final score was 6-5, with scoring
done by Heck with three goals, Volosin with two, and Contarsy with
one.
The Eagles' third CIF game took place at Mira Costa
High School on Tuesday, November 14. The Eagles played against La
Salle High School, a team which had previously beaten the Blue and
Gold. one. This game showed the Eagles at their finest. The games
started eventfully, and by half the two teams were tied at 5-5. The
next period was less eventful, with each team only scoring one goal
each. It was all over for La Salle after the third quarter, leaving
the exhausted team unable to stop the offending Eagles. In the final
quarter, the Eagles were able to pound home five goals, while
blocking and all offensive attempts by La Salle. This 11-6 win would
not have been possible without the unstoppable offense. These goals
were made by Danny Rajaniemi with three, Pittluck with two, Volosin
with five, and Heck with one. This game showed the Eagles at their
finest.
The next game was the semifinal round against Crescenta
Valley High School. The scoring started as Rajaniemi pounded one in
late in the first round. The CV Falcons matched us goal for goal in
the second quarter, raising the score to 3-3 by halftime. As the
third quarter started up, the birds of prey battled viciously.
Within three minutes, the Eagles were up 5-4 against the Falcons.
The Eagles scored three times that quarter and the Falcons scored
once, making the score 6-4. The fourth quarter was an exciting one,
due to the fact that the score kept rising until the very end. The
Falcons scored three times and the Eagles scored twice, making the
final score an exciting 8-7 win for the Eagles. Scoring for our side
was done by Heck with four goals, and Volosin and Rajaniemi with two
apiece. (Stats for this game were provided by local legends Alex
Richardson and James Meyerhoff.) This victory qualified them for the
Finals round of CIF during the Thanksgiving holiday.
This is a landmark event for the Eagles polo team, as
they have not done this well in CIF in the last few years.
On another note, the girls' water polo team started off
their season with a Midnight Madness on Sunday, November 19. This
event marked the beginning of the girls' season.
Football goes to CIF
by Andrew Gen, Sports Writer/Cartoonist/Staff Writer!
Football heads out of
the season with a league record of 3-2 and an overall record of 6-5.
Their final game against Serra was lost with the final score of
10-14.
The Eagles fought a tough game on November 17 against
Serra. The Eagles first came out in the lead but eventually lost the
lead by four when the final game clock ran out.
The Eagles season got them farther they they imagined.
After their first game no one ever believed that the Eagles could
make it to CIF but they reached it, but unfortunately they lost in
the first game. Good luck next time Eagles!
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