There is nothing like meeting up with your neighbors for some good old-fashioned fun and competition. That’s exactly what happened when the Elsinore Tigers water polo team took on Chaparral last week in the CIF Southern Section Division 4 playoffs, except it was more competition than fun.
Elsinore (21-5) scored first when Ikaika Mativa found himself wide-open in front of the goal following a restart in play. Jack Pavlosky tied the score for the Pumas in the first period. The score remained tied into the second period, but Tristan Anderson, Pavlosky and Jack Hougland each scored a goal to give Chaparral a 4-1 halftime lead. Jack Hougland’s goal came with two seconds remaining in the half.
It would take Elsinore 15 minutes from the time they scored their first goal, until they scored again in the third quarter. The Tigers trailed 6-3 entering the fourth quarter, but Jonathan Woodroof and Matt Woodroof each scored a goal to bring the lead to within a single goal.
Collin Crilly, who led the Pumas defensive efforts, scored to give Chaparral a 7-5 lead with 3:26 remaining. Goals from Greyson Barrios and Jonathan Woodward evened the score for the Tigers as time began to run out. Neither team could get ahead at the end of regulation, forcing overtime.
Chaparral goalkeeper Justin Hougland (16 saves) stopped a shot with just under two minutes remaining in the first overtime session and then quickly delivered an outlet pass to Spencer Paine who scored on the counterattack as the Pumas pulled out an 8-7 win. Hougland recorded 16 saves for Chaparral. Ayson King finished with 10 saves for Elsinore. Chaparral then traveled to No. 2-seeded Camarillo (16-8) for a quarterfinal match this past Saturday but fell to the Scorpions 11-7.
Murrieta Valley fell in the first round of the Division 2 playoffs to M. L. King (14-13), Temescal Canyon fell in the first round of the Division 3 playoffs to Roosevelt (10-8), Temecula Valley fell to Glendale 15-12 in the first round of the Division 4 playoffs, West Valley fell to Citrus Valley 25-9 in the first round of the Division 5 playoffs, and in the Division 6 playoffs it was Paloma Valley that fell in the second round to La Quinta, 6-5, while Tahquitz, Perris and Lakeside all lost in their first matches as well.
JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia.com.
