Boys water polo: Sea Kings dealt wake-up call

Steve Virgen

CORONA DEL MAR - Servite High’s stone hit Corona del Mar right

between the eyes. The CdM boys water polo team used complacency instead

of intensity and fell in a 9-6 nonleague upset to visiting Servite

Monday.

With the scored tied at six, the Friars went on a 3-0 run in a span of

1:32 in the fourth period.

“We slapped the giant across the face and the giant is wide awake,”

Servite Coach Jim Sprague said. “We’re going to find out what’s the story

with them from here on out.”

Sea Kings Coach John Vargas said his boys did not come ready to play

and their comeback was too little and too late.

Down, 6-3, late in the third period, CdM (14-2), the top-ranked team

in CIF Southern Section Division II, stormed back. Junior Artie Dorr drew

a penalty and Mike March skipped in the four-meter shot with 15 seconds

left in the third.

In the fourth period, Dorr, who had three steals and two goals, drew

John Doyle’s ejection and the Sea Kings took advantage of the

six-on-five. March fed a pass to John Mann, who fired one into the cage

from about 10 meters out. A minute later, CdM continued to attack when

John Money’s shot ricocheted off Servite goalie Matt Garcia’s hands and

Mann put the rebound into the empty net.

But the Friars (14-2) came alive and took control the rest of the way.

Though Servite is ranked No. 2 in CIF Division II, Sprague said his team

surprised the Sea Kings, so much so, even he was stunned.

“I would call this an upset,” Sprague said. “I am absolutely shocked

that we played as well as we did. In my book, (CdM) is still the No. 1

team.”

Said Vargas: “They outplayed us. We didn’t come ready to play and we

didn’t deserve anything. It was a bigger game for them. This has to be a

wake-up call. They beat us pretty good. We just can’t walk in and think

everything is good.”

The Friars, who had lost to CdM, 12-6, in the South Coast Tournament

Sept. 22, built a 2-0 lead in the game’s first three minutes. They

received their first goal on their first possession when a Sea King

mistakenly tipped in a Doyle pass to give Servite the 1-0 lead. Pat

Buckner, who scored a game-high four goals, was credited with the goal.

CdM never led, but tied the game three times, at two, three and six.

Mann assisted on Dorr’s goal to tie the score at two early in the second

period and Dorr scored again with 1:50 left in the first half, on an

assist from March for a 3-3 result. But Servite earned a man advantage

and Buckner scored to put the Friars ahead, 29 seconds before the half.

Servite finished 3 for 4 on man advantages, while CdM was 1 of 3. The

Sea Kings also had four shots that hit the crossbar or the posts, yet the

Friars scored two of their goals on shots that hit the crossbar and

floated into the cage.

“It will probably give us a heart attack of how close they were to

scoring when we look over this again on film,” Sprague said. “(The Sea

Kings) could’ve easily scored eight or 10 goals. They were just a splash

away.’

The Sea Kings will return to Pacific Coast League action Wednesday at

3:15 p.m. when they host Costa Mesa.

NONLEAGUE

Servite 9, Corona del Mar 6

Servite 2 2 2 3 - 9

Corona del Mar 1 2 1 2 - 6

S - Buckner 4, V. Bevins 3, Clark 2. Saves - Garcia 12.

CdM - Dorr 2, Mann 2, March 1, J. DiRocco 1. Saves - Stockstill 8, Kim

5.