Mustangs dominate Estancia, eye crown

COSTA MESA — Though their campuses are only a few miles apart, when it comes to the boys’ water polo programs at Costa Mesa High and Estancia, the water is wide. Still.

Costa Mesa opened a 9-0 lead on its way to an 18-2 Orange Coast League win Wednesday at the Eagles’ pool, thoroughly impressing Estancia Coach John Carpenter.

“Mesa has a great team this year,” Carpenter said. “[The Mustangs] have a lot of team speed and they have size. I see them going really far in CIF. I think they have a shot at beating Laguna Beach [ranked No. 4 in CIF Southern Section Division III] and winning league. We played Laguna and I think Mesa has enough tools to beat Laguna.”

The Mustangs’ tools were prohibitively sharper than those of their rival.

Senior twins Dustin and Cody Serrano scored seven and five goals, respectively, to pace the winners (12-5, 2-0 in league). Cody had five assists and Dustin added four, sometimes passing up wide open shots in front of the goal to set up their teammates.

Costa Mesa junior Connor Jackson made 17 saves to frustrate the Eagles, who fell to 3-11, 0-2.

“We’ve been playing as one big cohesive unit all year long,” Costa Mesa Coach Justin Taylor said. “Everyone has their own part and I think they all came out and did what they needed to do today.”

Taylor said the Eagles will need to defeat visiting Sage Hill Wednesday, before getting a shot at Laguna Beach (Oct. 29 on the road). Estancia can also earn a spot in the playoffs, Carpenter said, by winning its final two league games.

“I told the kids, if we beat Godinez and we beat Sage, we go to CIF,” Carpenter said. “It’s as simple as that. We’re not down and out. We just need to work hard the next couple weeks.”

Shane Lyons and junior Francisco Gonzalez each had goals for the Eagles, who received four saves and two steals from sophomore goalie Conner Graham.

Senior James Wanbaugh, starting in place of senior Garrett Frazier who was out sick, had three goals for the Mustangs.