Dos Pueblos’ Jake Griffin scored once for the Chargers against San Marcos on Tuesday.
Dos Pueblos’ boys water polo team remained undefeated in Channel League play after a defensive struggle with San Marcos on Tuesday as the Chargers topped the Royals 6-4 at Elings Aquatics Center.
The Chargers, now 3-0 in the league standings, are the only remaining undefeated team in Channel League play. San Marcos came into the match 1-0.
Shane Hauschild winds up for a fourth-quarter penalty shot, which he converted for this third goal of the day.
Shane Hauschild gave the Royals an early 1-0 lead on the first of his game-high three goals, but Dos Pueblos tied the game at 1-1 and never trailed again. DP led 3-1 at halftime and 4-2 entering the fourth quarter.
Taylor Gustason and Scott Mahan then scored on second-chance opportunities with 4:59 and 3:06 left in the game to give the Chargers their biggest lead at 6-2.
“It was a little bit closer than I would of liked to have had it be, but honestly I felt like we pretty much dominated the game,” said Dos Pueblos head coach Chris Parrish. “I really didn’t think we were giving them a whole lot, in fact, going into the fourth quarter they only had two goals.
“Our defense was playing really well.”
Dos Pueblos’ offense was another story according to Parrish.
“Our offense just didn’t click today. It just didn’t work,” Parrish said. “We didn’t hit the 1-on-nobodies, we didn’t capitalize on 6-on-5s, we didn’t earn ejections.”
The Royals came into the match with a No. 10 CIF ranking. Dos Pueblos is No. 3. Playing on the road, San Marcos found itself within a goal of the higher-ranked Chargers until Griffin scored on a penalty shot late in the third quarter to make the score 4-2.
“I thought we executed pretty well,” Hauschild said. “We didn’t have a ton of people on the bench to sub in and sub out so we had some lazy defensive plays late in the quarters that cost us.
“We played well for the most part though, I was pleased.”
Royals head coach Jeff Ashton thought his goalie Jack Palmer kept his team in the game.
“Our goalie played a great game,” Ashton said. “That was huge. That game could be a seven-goal win for them if Jack is not on his game.”
The tight match was a confidence boost for the Royals.
“I’m glad it was competitive but I felt like after the first half, like hey, we could win that game,” Ashton said.
The rematch at San Marcos is scheduled for Thursday, October 31.
San Marcos’ next match is Thursday against Ventura. Dos Pueblos has a bye on Thursday and plays Ventura next Tuesday.
DOS PUEBLOS 6, SAN MARCOS 4
SM 1 0 1 2 – 4
DP 1 2 1 2 – 6SM Scores – Hauschild 3, Bebb
DP Scores – Griffin, Gustason 2, Parrish, Mahan, YoungSM Goalie Saves – Palmer 7
DP Goalie Saves – Huebner 4
