Parker Peterson exploded on La Habra in the opening match of the Villa Park Tournament, scoring the first four goals in a 17-2 rout for the Santa Barbara boys water polo team.
Peterson finished with five goals for the third-seeded Dons (10-2), the No. 3 team in Division I.
In the second game, Ian Gamble’s stat-sheet filling performance helped Santa Barbara defeat Esperanza 10-4. It was the second time in as many weeks that the Dons have faced Esperanza. The first meeting went 12-3 in the Dons’ favor.
Gamble had 3 goals, 2 asists, 3 steals and 2 ejections drawn. Coach Mark Walsh also singled out Jason Masho for his team-high five-steal performance. Masho scored twice.
Santa Barbara faces La Cañada at 4:40 p.m. in the quarterfinals.
Walsh had other fine outings in the thrashing of La Habra. Juniors Ken Meyers and Brendan Kerwin-McElroy kept the pressure on with a hat trick for each. Senior Hunter Ploch stopped nine shots in goal.
