CHIEFS SURVIVE IN LAKESIDE; SECURE ANOTHER WIN IN OVERTIME

#4 CLAIREMONT 12 – #8 EL CAPITAN 10

After battling it out in the championship game of the Mt. Miguel Invite on Saturday, the Chiefs and Vaqueros met once again on Wednesday.  But this time the Chieftains were walking into the lion’s den as they faced a pumped up El Capitan team in Lakeside that was poised and ready to pull off an upset.

The first quarter was a back and forth affair, as the Vaqueros seemed to have an answer every time the Chieftains scored.  Junior Preston Coleman got his 3 goal day started with a back door catch and shoot off a pass from freshman Charlie Gipson.  A turnover off a power play led to an El Cap counter attack that tied the game at 1.  Seniors Kyse Moosa and Benson West both scored from center over the next couple of possessions to push the CHS lead to 3-1.  But once again unforced turnovers from the Chieftains on the offensive end gave the Vaqueros prime opportunities to counter, resulting in a 3-3 tie late in the first.  With 1 possession left in the quarter, sophomore Ryan Fegan was able to convert a 7 on 6 to give the Chieftains a 4-3 lead.

The game began to slow down in the 2nd quarter.  Clairemont looked as if they would take off on the Vaqueros early after senior Joseph Comalli and sophomore Graham West broke through to establish a 6-3 lead.  But continued miscues on both ends of the pool from the Chiefs gave El Capitan the life lines they needed to stay within reach, ending the 2nd quarter on a 2-0 run to draw within 1 at halftime.

El Cap crowd injected a renewed source of energy into the Vaquero players as they came out with purpose in the second half, scoring immediately and knotting the game at 6-6.  The Chieftain offense stalled through most of the third quarter as frustrations began to overcome reason.  5 empty possessions in a row before Coleman finally broke through again with a shot from center.  But the lead was short lived as El Capitan scored late to tie the game once again at 7-7.  The fourth quarter became a dog fight!  The two teams traded blows minute after minute.  Every time Clairemont took a lead, El Capitan responded.  28 minutes of regulation was not enough, and the teams prepared for overtime tied at 9-9.

Things nearly went south for Clairemont early in overtime as El Cap took their first lead of the game with a quick goal to start the overtime period.  But rather than fold, the Chieftains boys buckled down and responded with 3 straight goals to close out the overtime match!  With 3 defenders collapsing, Coleman whipped a quick sweep shot out of center to tie the game once more!  Clairemont’s power play attack won the night as both Moosa and Graham West converted late to give Clairemont a commanding 12-10 lead with less than 1 minute remaining.  The Vaqueros gave it one last effort to score, but Junior Cullen Holland pulled down the final attempt and swam it to safety to end the match.  Game, CLAIREMONT!

UP NEXT

The Clairemont Boys’ Water Polo team improves to 8-3 on the season and 5-0 vs Division 2 opponents.  Up next, the boys have their biggest test of the season as they host #3 Grossmont on Friday night at Standley at 6:30pm.  This game is part of the “Polopalooza” tournament hosted by Clairemont, Mission Bay, and University City.  All games will take place at Standley.  Clairemont will play #13 Oceanside at 9am and #18 Mt. Carmel at 3:15pm on Saturday.  COME OUT AND SUPPORT YOUR CHIEFTAINS!!