A tight summer league match-up between two strong offensive teams ended in a 17-12 victory for Pacifica High School last week at Ocean View High School.
They faced an Ocean View side that fought them up and down the pool from the start of the game. With almost 30 goals in the game, capitalizing on the counterattack and precise perimeter shooting were key in Pacifica’s win away from home.
“I thought we did a good job,” said Pacifica Head Coach Eric Anderson, “there was a good amount of camaraderie between the players.”
A tight summer league match-up between two strong offensive teams ended in a 17-12 victory for Pacifica High School last week at Ocean View High School.
They faced an Ocean View side that fought them up and down the pool from the start of the game. With almost 30 goals in the game, capitalizing on the counterattack and precise perimeter shooting were key in Pacifica’s win away from home.
“I thought we did a good job,” said Pacifica Head Coach Eric Anderson, “there was a good amount of camaraderie between the players.”
When asked about the high score Anderson expressed delight for his team’s victory but also admitted that he did not anticipate such a high score.
“Yeah, I didn’t expect that [many goals],” said Anderson with a smile. “I guess it means we need more defense.”
Defense looked like an afterthought for both teams as every lob, pass and throw to open water appeared to result in a goal. Pacifica players Aaron Bower and Nico Laverra were the ones running the show in attack, teaming up on several occasions to add to the Mariners tally.
On one of those occasions Bower, with possession of the ball, attacked open water, then lofted a pass to Laverra on the right side. Laverra clutched the ball and netted a swift shot past Ocean View’s goalie, who was at full stretch trying to make the stop.
With the sun setting late in the fourth period Pacifica players put away the game, scoring 4 goals in the span of a few minutes. The abundance of goals thrilled the parents who made the drive out to Huntington Beach.
“[Pacifica] did awesome. They played a smart game,” said Lisa Roepke, whose son Duncan plays for Pacifica, “[considering] it’s their first game since last fall, I think they played very well.”
The player who kept Ocean View within touching distance was Jonathan Salgado, scoring 10 goals in the match. Scoring just about every goal for his side, Salgado kept his team above water against a tough Pacifica side.
The game went differently than the last time these two teams faced off. Last season, Ocean View defeated the Mariners twice; the most recent defeat saw the Mariners lose 11-4. Anderson and his squad will feel a bit of retribution coming off such an impressive performance against a resilient Sea Hawk side.
Last season Pacifica scored 41 goals in their sixth place Empire League finish. Pacifica’s last win came against Western High, in which the Mariners cruised to an 11-5 triumph.
Pacifica plays its next game Thursday against Valley water polo club at 5:30 p.m. at Ocean View; Friday the team starts a tournament in Costa Mesa.
