Fifteen goals propel water polo past the first round of playoffs
PHOTO: Sophomore Alex Cordone takes a shot against a Lincoln High defender during their playoff game on Nov. 6.
By Morgan Kong,
BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–
The Davis High men’s water polo team kicked off their 2019 playoff run against Lincoln High on Nov. 6, handling the Trojans with a final score of 15-4. The game took place at the recreation center at River City High in West Sacramento.
Sophomore center Alexander Cordone started the game off by scoring the first goal, which was followed by another goal from junior attacker Trey Doten. Although the Blue Devils lost possession soon thereafter, senior goalie Zach Callahan saved the ball, stopping Lincoln from scoring.
After scoring two more goals, the first quarter ended with DHS on top, 4-0.
In the second quarter, the Devils continued their offensive pressure, with goals by sophomore attackers Ryan Pfeiffer and Johnny Vochatzer, Doten and senior utility Jack Johnson.
DHS continued to stretch their lead throughout the third quarter. Although the Devils missed a couple shots by hitting the rim, the team stayed on top with a number of other goals, in addition to the defense mainting a strong performance over the course of the game.
“The defense did a really good job of taking away shots, so there wasn’t a whole lot of business on my end,” Callahan said.
In the fourth quarter, the Devils let three goals through, but their 14-point lead buffered the late push by the Trojans.
Winning the game 15-4, the Devils will continue on to play Saint Mary’s High on Nov. 8. The game will take place at Saint Mary’s in Stockton.
“We have to be quicker in making decisions, and we need to be more communacative,” head coach Tracy Stapleton said.
Stapleton also said the team did particularly well with defense, ball awarenesss and spacing, and is excited to progress in playoffs against Saint Mary’s.
“We’ve beat [Saint Mary’s] before, so we’re certainly capable of beating them again,” Stapleton said. “It’s about bringing your A game, so we’re bound and determined to do that”.
Doten agrees. “We’ve beaten this team before, so we just got to do it one time and we’re in the semis,” Doten said.
