GOLDEN WEST - OEC CHAMPS!
COSTA MESA – The last time the Golden West College men’s water polo team did NOT win an Orange Empire Conference title, the price for a gallon of gasoline was $1.15. As of Saturday, that’s STILL the last time the Rustlers came up short thanks to a hard-fought 15-13 win over Orange Coast in the title game of the OEC Championship on Saturday at the OCC Aquatics Pavilion.
Championship: Golden West 15, Orange Coast 13
COSTA MESA – The last time the Golden West College men's water polo team did NOT win an Orange Empire Conference title, the price for a gallon of gasoline was $1.15. As of Saturday, that's STILL the last time the Rustlers came up short thanks to a hard-fought 15-13 win over Orange Coast in the title game of the OEC Championship on Saturday at the OCC Aquatics Pavilion.
Lucca Van Der Woude led the Rustlers (30-2) with four goals, while Michael Rodgers, Ryder Tonkovich and Joao Goncalves each added three.
For the Pirates (23-8), Jack McCann and Ben Hecht each had three goals, while Stan Schuring tossed in two.
Golden West trailed OCC 6-5 early in the second quarter before using a 7-1 run through the second quarter and into the third to grab a 12-7 advantage.
The Rustlers never lost that lead, but it wasn't easily held as the Pirates used a strong fourth-quarter push to get back into the contest. Back-to-back goals by McCann and Hecht within the final two minutes brought OCC to within a pair at 15-13, but a couple of ejections down the stretch thwarted any complete Pirate comeback as the Rustlers swam out the final seconds, capturing their 36th consecutive OEC title.
Third Place: Cypress 19, Saddleback 14
The middle quarters proved to be the difference-makers for the Chargers as they pulled away midway through the match to topple the Bobcats, 19-14 in the third-place game.
After a 4-4 tie in the opening quarter, Cypress used an 11-6 run through the second and third quarters, then held on from there.
Wes Brazda and Phearson Rosenlof each scored five goals to pace the Chargers' offense, while Victor Abella tossed in four goals.
For the Bobcats, Michael Adams, Callum Murphy and Jaylen Rose each scored three goals.
Fifth Place: Riverside 23, Fullerton 12 Luke Bills led RCC with nine goals, while Yanti Quijada was right behind him with seven goals and seven steals to lead the Tigers over the Hornets. Nico Armstrong and Jax Mora each chipped in a pair of goals, while Ian Partida-Garcia, Damion Montegue, and Davis DeAnda also got in on the scoring action.
For the Hornets, Yony Bautista, Michael Rousselo and Christina Johnston each had three goals to lead the Fullerton offense.
*Story by Tony Altobelli, Orange Coast College
Photo by Adrian Salgado/Orange Coast College