The Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders carried the torch for not only the Metro Conference — but also for their head coach — into the semifinal round of this year’s San Diego Section boys water polo playoffs.
The second-seeded Crusaders (22-5) dropped a 13-10 contest to the third-seeded Rancho Bernardo Broncos on Nov. 9 to suffer elimination from this year’s playoff field. But the two-time defending Mesa League champions did themselves proud.
Mater Dei Catholic head coach Guy Souza announced at the start of this season that the 2017 campaign would be his last after 11 years with the program. Knowing their coach was counting down the games, the Crusaders did their best to extend the season as long as they could.
They fell one game short of the end goal.
“In the end, Rancho Bernardo made more plays then us,” Souza explained. “Sure, the score was more then a disappointment to us, but that doesn’t take away from what we accomplished this year.
“I can’t say enough about the effort our kids gave to one another. This was truly the most unselfish group I have ever coached. They played for one another, they played for school pride, they played to leave a legacy, and what touched me the most, is that they played for their coach.
“Back in August I nicknamed this group the Magnificent 7 and that’s truly what they were — magnificent!”
Two-time Mesa League Player of the Year Ben Brown finished the semifinal game with four goals, three assists and two steals after being held scoreless against Granite Hills.
Brown finished his four-year career with 485 goals, 329 assists, 814 points and 411 steals. He recorded 126 goals and 112 assists for 238 points this year. He collected 121 goals and 214 points his junior year, 113 goals and 177 points his sophomore year and 125 goals and 185 points his freshman year.
Cougars on the prowl
South Bay League champion San Ysidro recorded a trip to the Division III quarterfinals. The fifth-seeded Cougars (20-10) scored the school’s first playoff win — 8-4 over 12th-seeded Rancho Buena Vista on Halloween — to produce a program milestone.
“We had a good group of kids,” SYHS head coach Edgard Espinosa said. “They worked hard. It was hard work that went into practice and the games that got us as far as we did. We didn’t have a big squad, just nine guys. But those nine players got us all the way to the quarterfinals.
“We set a new standard for the program.”
Six of the nine players on this year’s team are expected to form the core of next year’s squad.
“These kids are motivated,” Espinosa said. “They’re already back in the water playing club.”
San Diego Section 2017
Boys Water Polo Playoffs
Open Division
Quarterfinals
Saturday, Nov. 4
(1) Coronado 15, (8) Westview 10
(5) Vista 8, (4) Carlsbad 7
(6) La Jolla 8, (3) Cathedral Catholic 7
(2) Bishop’s 15, (7) Valhalla 3
Semifinals
Wednesday, Nov. 8
(1) Coronado 13, (5) Vista 12
(6) La Jolla 11, (2) Bishop’s 9
Championship
Saturday, Nov. 11
(1) Coronado 10, (6) La Jolla 9 (2OT)
Division I
First round
Tuesday, Oct. 31
(8) University City 12, (9) San Pasqual 6
(5) Torrey Pines 14, (12) San Marcos 6
(6) Del Norte 7, (11) La Costa Canyon 6
(10) Point Loma 8, (7) Valley Center 4
Byes: (1) Poway, (2) Grossmont, (3) Fallbrook, (4) Canyon Crest Academy
Quarterfinals
Friday, Nov. 3
(1) Poqay 12, (8) University City 8
(4) Canyon Crest Academy 11, (5) Torrey Pines 9
(6) Del Norte 7, (3) Fallbrook 5
(2) Grossmont 11, (10) Point Loma 5
Semifinals
Tuesday, Nov. 7
(4) Canyon Crest Academy 7, (1) Poway 5
(2) Grossmont 13, (6) Del Norte 8
Championship
Saturday, Nov. 11
(2) Grossmont 8, (4) Canyon Crest Academy 7
Division II
First round
Wednesday, Nov. 1
(8) Mar Vista 10, (9) San Dieguito Academy 7
(5) Scripps Ranch 16, (12) Hilltop 8
(6) Eastlake 12, (11) Patrick Henry 8
(7) Granite Hills 11, (10) El Camino 7
Byes: (1) Clairemont, (2) Mater Dei Catholic, (3) Rancho Bernardo, (4) Santana
Quarterfinals
Saturday, Nov. 4
(1) Clairemont 12, (8) Mar Vista 8
(4) Santana 7, (5) Scripps Ranch 5
(3) Rancho Bernardo 10, (6) Eastlake 7
(2) Mater Dei Catholic 7, (7) Granite Hills 6
Semifinals
Thursday, Nov. 9
(1) Clairemont 10, (4) Santana 9
(3) Rancho Bernardo 13, (2) Mater Dei Catholic 10
Championship
Saturday, Nov. 11
(1) Clairemont 10, (3) Rancho Bernardo 5
Division III
First round
Tuesday, Oct. 31
(8) High Tech High San Diego 19, (9) Monte Vista 6
(5) San Ysidro 8, (12) Rancho Buena Vista 4
(6) Mission Hills 30, Southwest 7
(7) El Capitan 11, (10) Classical Academy 8
Byes: (1) Steele Canyon, (2) Santa Fe Christian, (3) Mission Bay, (4) Escondido
Quarterfinals
Thursday, Nov. 2
(1) Steele Canyon 16, (8) High Tech High San Diego 6
(4) Escondido 9, (5) San Ysidro 4
(3) Mission Bay 9, (6) Mission Hills 6
(2) Santa Fe Christian 14, (7) El Capitan 4
Semifinals
Monday, Nov. 6
(1) Steele Canyon 20, (4) Escondido 10
(2) Santa Fe Christian 12, (3) Mission Bay 9
Championship
Saturday, Nov. 11
(1) Steele Canyon 14, (2) Santa Fe Christian 7
