Boys water polo: CdM wins one before losing to San Diego Shores

Joseph Boo

VILLA PARK - Corona del Mar High’s 18 and under boys water polo

team was having a dandy of a time in the U.S. Water Polo Junior Olympics.

After winning its first two games on Tuesday, the Sea Kings defeated La

Morinda B, 9-4, on Wednesday morning.

But everything came to a crashing halt for CdM after it suffered a

14-4 loss to San Diego Shores A in the Sea Kings’ final game of the

second-pool play Wednesday at Villa Park High.

CdM plays Harvard-Westlake today at 1:15 p.m. at Villa Park in an

elimination game. A win keeps CdM alive in the championship bracket.

Beating San Diego Shores was a tall order. It is a club team that

draws some of the better players from the San Diego area.

San Diego Shores certainly looked like a tough team in the first

quarter, scoring five straight goals before CdM’s Marcello Pantuliano

broke the ice. San Diego Shores got two more goals to take a 7-1 lead

after the first quarter, which lasted five minutes.

After San Diego Shores took the big lead, the game leveled out. CdM

scored a goal in each quarter, two from Artie Dorr and one from Michael

March. CdM also had several shots bounce off the post or saved by San

Diego Shore goalie Justin McCain.

On the flip side, San Diego Shores cruised, scoring twice in the

second and third quarter and three in the fourth. CdM goalie Sherwin Kim

made two saves against an efficient San Diego offense.

“They played hard,� said Marc Hunt, who is coaching CdM along with Tim

Salvino while John Vargas is away with the U.S. men’s national team,

said. “They went out and gave a very good effort.�

In the first game, CdM’s Garrett Bowlus single-handedly beat La

Morinda B with six goals in a 9-4 Sea King victory. March, Pantuliano and

Dorr got the other CdM goals. Kim made seven saves.

“We got a very good opportunity to advance in the tournament,� Hunt

said. “And we’ll learn more from that. It’s helping us prepare for the

season by playing these games.�

Newport Harbor’s 16 and under boys team won twice on Wednesday. Nathan

Weiner, Brent Armstrong and Michael Vanderburg each had two goals in the

Sailors 8-3 victory over Irvine in the morning game. Ryan Winthrop made

eight saves for Newport.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Tars beat Canyon, 11-7. Vanderburg and

Ryan Bean each scored three times. Newport plays today, at 11 a.m.

against Rose Bowl A at Valencia High.

CdM’s 16-and under-boys team won its first two games on Tuesday. It

defeated East Bay, 6-4, behind three goals from Jason DiRocco.

In the second game, DiRocco scored three times and Jayred Vargas twice

to lead the Sea Kings past Raider, 7-3.