PREP ROUNDUP : Foothill Passes First Test, Wins in Water Polo

Foothill, faced with the toughest draw for a first-place team in the Southern Section Division I water polo playoffs, passed its initial test Friday, defeating Dana Hills, 13-10, at Tustin High School.

Dana Hills, which was ranked among the Top 10 in the Division I coaches’ poll throughout the season, finished fourth in the difficult South Coast League and received the at-large berth into the playoffs.

Foothill, which won its first Century League title since 1987, drew Dana Hills as a reward. And Dana Hills (19-9) gave Foothill plenty of competition Friday, but in the end the Knights prevailed with cool heads and balanced scoring. Foothill (17-10) advances to play third-seeded Harvard-Westlake in the quarterfinals Tuesday at a site to be determined.

When Dana Hills scored three consecutive goals early in the fourth quarter to tie the score, 9-9, it appeared that the Dolphins might be able to take control of the match. But Foothill responded immediately as Jay Bradshaw drew Dana Hills goalkeeper Tim Christian out of the net and scored with 3 minutes 52 seconds left.

After a save by Foothill goalie Alden Weaver, Chad Gniffke gave the Knights a two-goal lead with a perfectly placed lob shot. Foothill scored two more goals in the run to put the match out of reach.

Gniffke and David Hay each scored four goals for Foothill. Bradshaw scored three, including two in the final four minutes of the match.

Dana Hills’ dominant two-meter man Alan Herrmann scored five goals but was largely held in check by Foothill defender Cabot Weaver.