Royal Thwarted in Quarterfinals by Esperanza : High school water polo: Highlanders stay close early, but Aztecs score six straight goals in second half to put match away, 15-8.

Esperanza High broke open a close match with six consecutive goals in the second half on its way to a 15-8 victory over Royal in the quarterfinals of the Southern Section Division II water polo playoffs Wednesday at Esperanza.

Ian Ching led Esperanza (19-8) with five goals. Eric Dudley and Andy Bruininea each scored three goals for Royal.

Royal erased an early 2-0 deficit to pull within 7-6 at halftime, led by Bruininea’s three first-half goals.

But the match seemed to turn on one play early in the third quarter. Jeremy Pickles, who scored more than 100 times this season for the Highlanders (21-6), was in front of the Esperanza goal, but his point-blank shot was turned away by goalie Pete Lange, who finished with nine saves.

Twenty seconds later, Brian Bruns scored for Esperanza, and Ching followed a minute later with a goal on a breakaway, giving the Aztecs a 9-6 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Ching added two fourth-quarter goals to help put Royal away.

“We were able to exploit their fatigue in the second half,� Esperanza Coach Doug Kimberly said. “We try to play tougher in the second half--that’s something we train for.�

Ching, the high scorer, was also given the assignment of checking Pickles on defense, and he held the Royal standout to one goal.