The Santa Barbara boys water polo team came close to bringing down the No. 1 team in Div. IV on Thursday, ultimately falling to Palos Verdes 11-9.
The Dons were down a single goal for much of the final quarter before Palos Verdes scored with 2:15 remaining to go up by two. Neither team scored again.
“We were right there on the doorstep,” said Dons head coach Mark Walsh, whose Dons fall to 10-7 and return to Channel League play on Tuesday against Buena.
Brendan Kerwin-McElroy tallied five goals, Mark Davis had two and Enzo Wolfe two for Santa Barbara.
Chris Richardson led the Sea Kings with five goals.
PALOS VERDES 11, SANTA BARBARA 9
Santa Barbara 3 3 2 1 - 9
Palos Verdes 2 4 3 2 – 11
