A San Marcos second-half rally fell short as Mira Costa held off the Royals 9-8 in a non-league boys water polo match in Manhattan Beach on Thursday.
San Marcos drew an ejection with six seconds left in regulation but it couldn’t convert on the 6 on 5 to tie the score and send the game into overtime.
Mira Costa jumped out to a 5-1 advantage in the first half and led 7-4 after three periods. The Royals made a run at the Mustangs in the fourth period, scoring four goals. But Mira Costa was able to fend off the surge.
“The Mira Costa goalie played an excellent game,” San Marcos coach Jeff Ashton said. “While it was a disappointing loss, I was proud of the resiliency and effort of our team.”
Ben Hauschild, Spencer Wood and George Kuesis each scored two goals for San Marcos (9-3).
Ashton praised the play of Adam Fuller, who “played a great game defending two meters, drawing a penalty shot and scoring a goal.”
Score by Quarters
San Marcos 1 0 3 4 — 8
Mira Costa 2 3 2 2 — 9
SM Goal Scorers: Ben Hauschild 2, Spencer Wood 2, George Kuesis 2, Adam Fuller 1, Jesse Morrison 1. SM Goalie Saves: Jack Palmer 13
