Every game from now on can likely be classified as the biggest game in the history of the Mater Dei Catholic High School boys water polo team.
The Crusaders may have recorded their biggest win in school history, at least as far as the San Diego Section playoffs go, after defeating the seventh-seeded Granite Hills Eagles, 7-6, in last Saturday’s Division II quarterfinals at La Jolla High School.
The win over a long time East County water polo power was yet another feather in the hat for the Crusaders this season.
The win advanced second-seeded Mater Dei Catholic (22-4) to Thursday’s semifinals against third-seeded Rancho Bernardo (19-11). This game now becomes the biggest game in school history. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at La Jolla High School.
The winner of Thursday’s semifinal contest advances to Saturday’s Division II championship game, also scheduled at LJHS (1 p.m. game time).
The Mater Dei Catholic-Rancho Bernardo winner will play the winner of Thursday’s other semifinal matchup between top-seeded Clairemont (21-3) and fourth-seeded Santana (15-15). Those teams will face off Thursday at 5:45 p.m. at LJHS.
Rancho Bernardo eliminated sixth-seeded Eastlake (14-15) by a score of 10-7 in last Saturday’s quarterfinals while Clairemont defeated eighth-seeded Mar Vista (16-12) by a quarterfinal-round score of 12-8.
Juan Hernandez led the two-time defending Mesa League champion Crusaders with three goals in the playoff win over Granite Hills (14-15). David Brown scored two goals while B.J. Riley and Nick Salisbury each scored one goal.
Mater Dei Catholic goalie Dionisio Saucedo came up big with 12 saves.
“This game was a defensive battle, there were 13 ejections in the game and we gave up six of them,” MDCHS head coach Guy Souza said. “I liked the fact that we matched Granite Hills’ physicality, but I was not happy about the ejections we took on our end.
“I did like the way our kids were moving on offense in the first half and their effort to draw ejections. But we have to be better on the six-on-five if we expect to advance to the finals.”
Souza credited Saucedo as the Crusaders’ player of the game.
“He made 12 saves and the final save was made with one second on the clock to preserve the victory,” the MDCHS coach said.
On a side note, for the second consecutive year Ben Brown was selected as Mesa League Player of The Year. Juan Hernandez and Saucedo were both Mesa League all-league first team selections along with teammate Ben Brown, who earned honors as the league’s player of the year for the second consecutive year.
Fernando Margain and Salisbury were each named to the second team while Riley and David Brown were honorable mention selections.
In another quarterfinal game, Santana edged fifth-seeded Scripps Ranch 7-5. Granite Hills eliminated 10-th seeded El Camino, 11-7, in opening round action on Nov. 1.
San Diego Section
Boys Water Polo Playoffs
Division II
Semifinals
Thursday. Nov. 9 at La Jolla High School
(1) Clairemont 10, (4) Santana 9
(3) Rancho Bernardo 13, (2) Mater Dei Catholic 10
Championship game: (1) Clairemont vs. (3) Rancho Bernardo
