Dons goalie Sean McGee tries to fill as much space as possible while facing an Esperanza penalty shot. (Peter Trabucco Photos)
Dons senior Mark Davis
Santa Barbara capped a huge week of water polo by holding off Esperanza 9-6 on Saturday at home.
Junior Nic Johnson paced the Dons with three goals and three steals and he drew a penalty shot.
Santa Barbara, which earlier in the week defeated powerhouse teams Palos Verdes and Servite, jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period and led 3-2 at halftime. A 4-1 third quarter proved to be the difference.
“We really played well all week,” Santa Barbara coach Mark Walsh said. “Each game we had a different guy (Linz vsPV, Davis vs. Servite, and Johnson vs. Esperanza) step up and lead us offensively. We were pretty balanced.”
Goalie Sean McGree was a difference maker for the Dons. He frustrated Esperanza with 13 saves.
“That is the third game out of four where he has recorded more than 10 saves,” said Walsh.
The Dons’ defense also played well, holding Esperanza scoreless on five of its six 6-on-5 opportunities.
Walsh stressed the importance of this week’s schedule to his team.
“I told the guys on Monday, if we lost any games this week, they were going to drop us to Division 2. I said it is like the English Premier League in soccer, if you lose too many games, they drop you a division.”
Then, he added, “I forgot to tell them I was kidding.”
Esperanza…0 2 1 3 — 6
Santa Barbara…2 1 4 2 — 9
Goals—SB: Johnson 3, Linz 2, Loomis, McManigal, Robertson, Wolfe. E: Masone 3, MacLellan 2, Wright.
Saves—SB: McGee 13. E: Hamrighausen 6.
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