Water Polo Goes 1-1 on Day 1 in California

Following an opening match setback to Vista in the Coronado Invitational by a 15-11 margin on Friday, the Bruins rallied for a 6-5 win later in the day against Canyon Crest Academy. The Bruins (5-1), ranked seventh in their eight-team bracket, will continue play on Saturday.

 

In the first match against second-seed Vista, the Bruins quickly fell behind 5-0. The teams exchanged goals before the end of the first quarter, as Kyle Yelensky finished off a Timmy Saunders pass for Brunswick’s lone marker in the first stanza.

 

Vista opened the second quarter with four straight tallies, building a commanding 10-1 lead over the Bruins, who enter the contest with a 4-0 record. Despite the deficit, the Bruins rallied with a four-goal run, trimming the Vista lead to 10-5 before the half. Nico Apostolides opened the run with a goal, followed by Yelensky’s second goal scored on a man-up play. Keegan Drew netted his first goal of the game and fed Yelensky on the final goal of the run.

 

Brunswick closed the gap to 10-8 in the third quarter with a three-goal spurt. Following a key man-down stop by the Bruins, Yelensky notched his third goal on a two-man up situation. Drew added his third score of the game as Jake Charney capped the run with a solo tally to make it a two-goal contest. Vista halted the Brunswick momentum with a goal, but Drew countered with a goal after stealing the ball to make it a 11-9 game after three quarters.

 

The Bruins could get no closer, as Vista pulled away in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Bruins 4-2 in the frame to hold on for a 15-11 win.

 

 

Vista 15 - Brunswick 11

 

Goals:

Apostolides (2), Charney (1), Yelensky (3), Ohl (1), Drew (4)

Saves:

Hartch (6)

 

In game two, Canyon Crest jumped out to a 2-0 lead before Apostolides notched an extra-man tally in the first quarter. Canyon Crest, the sixth-seeded team in the bracket, later added a third tally on a double man-up goal to take a 3-1 lead after one quarter.

 

Brunswick made it a 4-4 game at the half, as Apostolides netted three goals for the Bruins in the second quarter. Apostolides finished off a penalty shot drawn by Yelensky for his first of three markers. Later, Apostolides scored a natural goal before recording a goal on another penalty shot, again drawn by Yelensky.

           

After each team traded goals in the third quarter, the game was tied 5-5 heading into the fourth frame. Brunswick’s third quarter tally was netted by Ohl on a man-up play.

 

In the deciding fourth quarter, Apostolides drew a key penalty. Brunswick teammate Gavin Molloy netted the go-ahead goal. Brunswick’s goalie Hayden Collins made some key stops down the stretch to preserve the win.

 

Brunswick 6 – Canyon Crest Academy 5

 

Apostolides (4), Molloy (1), Ohl (1),

Saves:

Hartch (3), Collins (5)