Boys water polo: CdM breezes in opening round, 19-1

Richard Dunn

CORONA DEL MAR - As Corona del Mar High applied daunting defensive

pressure to all but eliminate the opponent’s offense, visiting Cypress

figured it at least beat the oddsmakers Thursday in the first round of

the CIF Southern Section Division II boys water polo playoffs.

“We’re actually happy, because we were predicted to lose, 20-0, so we

beat the odds by one,” Cypress co-head coach Darren Sandvig said,

following second-seeded CdM’s 19-1 victory.

Corona del Mar (20-3), the two-time defending CIF Division II

champion, will play Serra League runner-up Santa Margarita in the

quarterfinals Saturday at a site and time to be determined. A coin flip

today will decide the home team.

“I’m glad we started off like this to get some momentum, because we

haven’t played in a week,” CdM Coach John Vargas said. “Gosh, our defense

was good. It really shut (the Centurions) down. But I give Cypress

(14-11) a lot of credit, because it kept charging the whole time.”

Cypress, a third-place team from the Empire League, celebrated after

its only goal with 4:04 left in the fourth quarter, after CdM led, 17-0.

Ryan Nitta scored from 10 meters out on a shot that slipped inside the

post.

“Hey, we played the best team in CIF and scored,” Cypress co-coach

Chris Fenoglio said. “(The Sea Kings) are going to win (the title).”

CdM, seeded behind Servite, featured four players with three goals,

while Vargas’ backup members received plenty of pool time. “(The players)

had a good time today, especially that (final) group,” Vargas said. “I

hope we just keep the momentum going. I think we can make a push for this

(Division II title).”

Artie Dorr, John Mann, Jason DiRocco and Mike March each scored three

goals for CdM, while Bobby Messenger added two at the end of the first

half on assists by goalkeeper Sherwin Kim (four saves) to finish

counterattacks. The Sea Kings enjoyed an 11-0 halftime lead.

Beau Stockstill had three saves in the second half, while Cypress

goalie Chris Sharpe finished with seven saves.

Mann added six steals and three assists for CdM, while Matt Meyer,

Ryan Moore, Marcello Pantuliano and John Money recorded steals in the

third quarter.

CdM scored five goals in the first on the counterattack and six more

in the second. Moore, Money, Chris Hinger, Griffin Gentry and David

DiRocco scored one goal each for CdM.

CIF DIVISION II FIRST ROUND

Corona del Mar 19, Cypress 1

Cypress 0 0 0 1 - 1

Corona del Mar 5 6 4 4 - 19

Cypress - Nitta 1. Saves - Sharpe 7.

CdM - Dorr 3, Mann 3, J. DiRocco 3, March 3, Messenger 2, Moore 1,

Hinger 1, Gentry 1, D. DiRocco 1, Money 1. Saves - Kim 4, Stockstill 3.