Southern Section Water Polo : Royal Eliminated on Edison Goal in Final 2 Minutes

The Royal High water polo team was 3 minutes from breaking new ground. But for the eighth time in the past 9 seasons the Highlanders advanced to the second round of the Southern Section playoffs, only to, well, go in the tank.

In a 3-A Division second-round match against Edison at Golden West College in Huntington Beach on Friday, the Highlanders found yet another painful way to lose, blowing a lead in the final 2 minutes to fall, 11-10.

“We’re talking heartbreak with a capital H,” Royal Coach Steve Snyder said. “This one was hard to take.”

After trailing, 4-1, in the first quarter, Royal rallied in the second half. The Highlanders tied the score, 9-9, with 3:30 remaining, then scored 30 seconds later to move ahead.

Edison, however, scored on a penalty play to forge a 10-10 tie. The Chargers, ranked sixth in the division, then took advantage of the short-handed Highlanders--senior team captain Steve Robinson was ejected for his third personal foul--to pull out the win with 1:12 remaining.