Dos Pueblos’ Blake Parrish looks for an opening to take a shot on goal against Santa Barbara on Tuesday. (Presidio Sports Photo)
It’s a new year and a new dynamic in the Channel League as Dos Pueblos’ boys water polo team beat last season’s undefeated champion Santa Barbara in Tuesday’s opener 15-4.
“Everyone from last year’s team with the exception of Grant Schroeder was there last year when they had their 11 seniors and they just torched us,” said Dos Pueblos head coach Chris Parrish. “We put up a fight both times we played them but we couldn’t get over the hump because they were just so talented.
“So this was just a good, kind of cathartic win for our guys.”
The Chargers, freshly upgraded to the No. 3 ranking in CIF-ss Division 2, outscored the Dons 13-2 after a 2-2 tie early in the second quarter.
“It’s rough to let those two goals in so early but I was pretty confident that we would be able to come back,” said Dos Pueblos junior Blake Parrish. “But it’s also nervewracking because it’s a big game, there’s a lot of pressure and you don’t want to give up easy goals.”
Seven different Chargers scored and goalie Emil Huebner blocked 12 shots as Dos Pueblos improved to 1-0 in league play.?Parrish led DP with four goals and drew two penalty shots. The junior is a returning All-League first-teamer who played for a junior USA national team at the Pan American Junior Games in Argentina during the summer.
“We don’t have anyone who can guard Parrish. Even when we had two or three guys on him it didn’t seem like enough,” said Dons head coach Mark Walsh.
Parrish was going against his good friend, Dons goalie Sam Johnson.
“It’s a little chess match because he’s knows where you want to shoot but you know where he wants to block. You try to trick each other. It’s fun,” Parrish said.
Johnson’s counterpart, Emil Huebner, stopped a 5-meter attempt among his 12 blocks as the Dons were allowed to score just once after halftime.
“Emil played a fantastic game,” said Parrish.
Jake Griffin and Graham Young added three goals each on offense.
Dos Pueblos (7-6) is the highest ranked team in the Channel League at the moment. Ventura is No. 7 and San Marcos No. 8.
Santa Barbara (5-8), which reached the Division 2 CIF Championship last year but graduated 11 seniors from that team, received some votes and sits right outside the top 10.
Tyler Heffernan notched two goals for the Dons, with Chris Gafney and Adam Gross adding one each.
Walsh said it’s a work in progress.
“I know it sounds clich?, but really get better every day in practice, learn from our mistakes.”
Kelly Reynolds scored his first varsity goal for the Chargers in the final minute of the game.
DOS PUEBLOS 15, SANTA BARBARA 4
SB 1 2 1 0 – 4
DP 2 5 3 5 – 15SB Goals – Heffernan 2, Gaffney, Gross
DP Goals – Parrish 4, Griffin 3, Young 3, Peacok 2, Gustason, Reynolds, MalhotraSB Goalie Saves – Johnson 8
DP Goalie Saves – Huebner 12
