2008 Woodie Awards
Water Polo Sinks at So Cal
Chris Garcia
Issue date: 11/16/05 Section: Sports
Fifth-ranked Grossmont College squeaked by ninth-ranked Valley College Friday, eliminating the Monarchs from the Southern California Championships,11-9, in an extremely competitive game at San Diego State University.
The Monarchs and the Griffins exchanged scores throughout the first period, which ended in a 4-3 advantage for Grossmont.
Grossmont's John Lackey led the way by scoring the majority of the goals against the Monarchs. As the second period started, Lackey took control of the game as he scored three unanswered goals as Valley struggled.
Valley head coach Jim McMillan called for a time-out to try and settle his team down.
Coming out of the time-out, the Monarchs evened the score at six, but the Griffins snuck in two quick scores, to end the second period with an 8-6 lead.
The Griffin bench sounded confident as players discussed whether to run the clock or blow out the Monarchs. They decided to go for the blowout.
The Monarchs had something else in mind as they outscored the Griffins in the third period, 3-1, as Mark Hicks, Allen Manjarrez and Nestor Dordoni each contributed a goal to end the period at a 9-9 tie.
"I expected it to be a tough game, but I did not expect the game to have as many scores as it did," said Dordoni.
Both teams buckled down as they faced elimination. The first four-and-a-half minutes went by without a score. Grossmont utility player Karl Maes struck first to give his team a one-goal lead.
But the Monarchs weren't about to give up - Dordoni tied the game with a bullet shot from the right-hand side of the pool.
After Manjarrez gave Valley the lead with only 2:23 left in the game, the Valley bench was screaming "Defense!"
But Grossmont came back by forcing Valley into turnovers and shutting them out in the final minutes. Grossmont's three unanswered goals gave the Griffins enough to squeak by 13-11.
"The team played great, they were under-manned and they fought until the final buzzer," said McMillan, reffering to star player Billy Bracy, who was suspended for the game.
The Monarchs and the Griffins exchanged scores throughout the first period, which ended in a 4-3 advantage for Grossmont.
Grossmont's John Lackey led the way by scoring the majority of the goals against the Monarchs. As the second period started, Lackey took control of the game as he scored three unanswered goals as Valley struggled.
Valley head coach Jim McMillan called for a time-out to try and settle his team down.
Coming out of the time-out, the Monarchs evened the score at six, but the Griffins snuck in two quick scores, to end the second period with an 8-6 lead.
The Griffin bench sounded confident as players discussed whether to run the clock or blow out the Monarchs. They decided to go for the blowout.
The Monarchs had something else in mind as they outscored the Griffins in the third period, 3-1, as Mark Hicks, Allen Manjarrez and Nestor Dordoni each contributed a goal to end the period at a 9-9 tie.
"I expected it to be a tough game, but I did not expect the game to have as many scores as it did," said Dordoni.
Both teams buckled down as they faced elimination. The first four-and-a-half minutes went by without a score. Grossmont utility player Karl Maes struck first to give his team a one-goal lead.
But the Monarchs weren't about to give up - Dordoni tied the game with a bullet shot from the right-hand side of the pool.
After Manjarrez gave Valley the lead with only 2:23 left in the game, the Valley bench was screaming "Defense!"
But Grossmont came back by forcing Valley into turnovers and shutting them out in the final minutes. Grossmont's three unanswered goals gave the Griffins enough to squeak by 13-11.
"The team played great, they were under-manned and they fought until the final buzzer," said McMillan, reffering to star player Billy Bracy, who was suspended for the game.
