If past form holds true, it would be unfair to judge the Southwestern College men’s water polo team’s upcoming season based solely on its season opener — a 26-7 Pacific Coast Athletic Conference loss to the three-time defending conference champion Grossmont Griffins.
“Every year we have finished stronger than we have started,” SWC coach Jorge Ortega said following the Sept. 3 setback to the Griffins, who finished 24-6 last season with a final No. 6 state ranking.
The Jags indeed finished with a strong spurt to end the 2013 campaign by placing third in the conference championship tournament.
However, beating Grossmont remains a challenge. Veteran coach Brian Harvey retired last season with 20 conference championships in a storied 25-year coaching career. The Griffins opened a new era in their illustrious history for new head coach Ty Lackey by dominating SWC from start to finish in the teams’ season opener.
Grossmont led 8-1 after the first quarter, 13-1 at halftime and carried an 18-5 lead into the final quarter.
Jorge Perez-Romo, last year’s PCAC Player of the Year, scored eight goals — a figure matched by teammate Antonio Garaldo-Peralta.
If the firepower wasn’t enough, manning the cage was former Valhalla High School All-American Rockne O’Brien, who finished the game with 13 saves.
Bright spots for the Jags included the play of newcomer Brian Carroll (Coronado) and goalie Josue Macias (Hilltop).
Carroll led Southwestern with three goals and three steals while Macias collected 11 saves, one assist and one steal.
Sophomore standout Nick Howard had two goals, one assist and two steals while Giovanni Lucatero (Otay Ranch) and Jesus Santoyo (Montgomery) each scored one goal. Edward Sanchez (Serra) and Carlos Lizarraga (Hilltop) were each credited with one assist.
Despite the drubbing administered by the Griffins, Ortega remains optimistic about the 2014 community college campaign.
“Collectively, from top to bottom, we have one of the more talented teams than in the past,” the SWC coach noted. “We’ve got to get everyone in shape and build up team chemistry. I don’t think we’re too far away in our ability to compete.
“Grossmont countered us. We need to work on correcting our weaknesses.”
Wet shots
Grossmont defeated Southwestern, 17-2, in a PCAC women’s water polo game on Sept. 3.
