A late goal in the fourth period by Downey High sealed the 10-9 non-league victory over Pacifica High’s boys water polo team on Thursday, Sept. 18 at Downey.
The Mariners were ahead for the first three periods of the game, but after a mix up with the scoreboard, they found themselves tied 9-9 with about four minutes left in the fourth.
The Vikings tied up things by converting a five-meter penalty shot awarded after a defensive foul by the Mariners.
A late goal in the fourth period by Downey High sealed the 10-9 non-league victory over Pacifica High’s boys water polo team on Thursday, Sept. 18 at Downey.
The Mariners were ahead for the first three periods of the game, but after a mix up with the scoreboard, they found themselves tied 9-9 with about four minutes left in the fourth.
The Vikings tied up things by converting a five-meter penalty shot awarded after a defensive foul by the Mariners.
Stern defense helped the Vikings hold off the attack in the next play headed by Mariners’ Aaron Bauer, whose many shots on goal pressured the opposing defense throughout the game. Bauer opened off the fourth period with an amazing solo effort steal, and showed excellent ability in keeping possession after the steal with three Vikings players swarming him.
His steal led to a goal for the Mariners who looked keen on a victory.
Downey regained possession after a broken down Mariner attack following their game-tying five-meter conversion, and headed for goal.
The Vikings’ pressure on the Mariners defense spurred another mishap in the center of the pool resulting in another Vikings five-meter opportunity.
Things looked to had gotten bad to worse, with the Vikings on the cusp of the lead, but the Mariners’ goalie would come up huge for his side and stuffed the Vikings’ penalty attempt.
After the stop, the momentum looked to be with the Mariners who were assembling themselves for a final attack.
“This is it guys,” yelled Mariner Nicolas Levert to his teammates as they took their places in the pool.
The next play would break down for the Mariners after a couple quick passes led to a swift shot being blocked. A quick Vikings breakaway would be held-up but not enough to stop them from notching home a goal and taking the lead.
A brilliant Vikings effort just wide of the Mariner goalie’s reaching arms and just wide of Levert’s arm, hit the top right corner of the net.
The goal would prove enough to hold off the Mariners who were knocking on door of Downey’s goal for the last minutes of the game.
“I think we need to be more mobile,” said Mariner’s head coach Eric Anderson. “We need to be more swivel-headed in the game. We need to be more aware of everything in the pool.”
The Mariners’ face Santa Ana Valley High on Thursday Sept. 25.
Pacifica will be looking to get in the rhythm of winning before the regular season starts and these next two games are prefect for establishing their presence as a league champion contender.
