Brandon Cowan saved his best for last on Friday, scoring the final three goals for the Santa Barbara boys water polo team in a 9-6 victory over La Cañada on the second day of the Villa Park Tournament.
The Dons, ranked No. 3 in Division I, will face top-ranked El Toro in Saturday’s semifinal that starts at 4 p.m.
The Dons really had to work to for this one.
La Cañada got within a goal at 6-5 with four minutes left in the fourth quarter. Cowan’s offensive outburst helped Santa Barbara breathe a little easier by putting it out of reach late.
The Dons were in danger of heading into halftime with a 1-3 deficit. Lautaro Fesembeck scored late in the second quarter and goalie Hunter Ploch got his first goal of the season at the halftime buzzer to draw Santa Barbara even. Ploch also recorded nine saves.
Ian Gamble joined Cowan with a hat trick and added three steals and three ejections drawn. Chris Dall, Fesembeck and Ploch completed the scoring. Brendan Kerwin-McElroy led the Dons with a team-high four steals on defense.
SANTA BARBARA 9, LA CAÑADA 6
Santa Barbara 1 2 3 3 — 9
La Cañada 2 1 1 2 — 6
Goals Scored: SB — Gamble 3, Cowan 3, Dall 1, Fesembeck 1, Ploch 1. Saves — Ploch, 9.
