SOUTHERN SECTION WATER POLO PLAYOFFS : Esperanza Pulls Away in Second Half to Win

Esperanza broke open a close game with six consecutive goals in the second half of a 15-8 victory over Simi Valley Royal in the quarterfinals of the Southern Section Division II water polo playoffs Wednesday at Esperanza.

Ian Ching led Esperanza (19-8) with five goals, while Brian Bruns scored three and Mike Stanley and Paul Zinn had two apiece.

Royal erased an early two-goal deficit to pull within 7-6 at halftime.

But the game seemed to turn on one play early in the third quarter. Jeremy Pickles, who has scored more than 100 goals this season for Royal, was alone in front of the Esperanza net, but his point-blank shot was turned away by Aztec goalie Pete Lange , who finished with nine saves.

Twenty seconds later, Bruns scored, and Ching followed a minute later with a goal on a breakaway, giving the Aztecs a 9-6 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Ching added two fourth-quarter goals to help put Royal away.

“We were able to exploit their fatigue in the second half,” Esperanza Coach Doug Kimberly said. “We try to play tougher in the second half--that’s something we train for.”

Esperanza’s victory sets up a semifinal game against Riverside Poly, a 20-3 winner over Santa Maria. Esperanza defeated Riverside Poly in last year’s Division II final.

“We’re certainly the underdog,” Kimberly said. “Riverside Poly has everybody back, and they’re definitely hungry to get us.”