Boys’ Water Polo: Estancia can’t keep up with Diamond Bar
The Diamond Bar High boys’ water polo team made the 29-mile trip south to Estancia for a CIF Southern Section Division 6 wild-card playoff match against the Eagles and made itself right at home.
Diamond Bar’s counterattack yielded results quickly and frequently in a 14-7 victory on Tuesday.
The Brahmas (19-11), who were ranked No. 3 in Division 6 and an at-large selection out of the Palomares League, advance to a round-one contest Wednesday against Garden Grove at Garden Grove High.
“They are a very strong team,” Estancia Coach Mitch White said. “I knew that this was going to be a hard game. We were prepared for that but not quite for the onslaught.”
Diego Hammond led Diamond Bar with six goals.
Cobi White and Alex Epperson scored two goals each to lead the Eagles.
Estancia goalie Eizik Leyva finished with six saves.
The Eagles (11-12), who finished third in the Orange Coast League, had an opportunity early.
Jason Chesemore took a hard shot that sailed high over the goal.
Seconds later, Leyva left the goal in attempt to grab a loose ball about three yards in front of the net, but Hammond got to the ball first and lobbed it over Eizik’s head for an easy goal and a 1-0 lead for the Brahmas.
Estancia’s Chris Bauer then scored on a long pass from Epperson to tie the score.
Hammond then scored three more goals in less than a minute, all coming on passes from the other end of the pool, giving the Brahmas a 4-1 lead after the first quarter.
“We didn’t take away their game,” White said.
Kris Chany scored a minute into the second quarter to give Diamond Bar a 5-1 lead.
Chesmore responded with a hard shot but it was right at goalie Sebastion Huong.
Aaron Velarde and Sebastian Galleli scored from right in front of the goal to make the score 7-1 and Chany scored again to give the Brahmas an 8-1 lead at the half.
Diamond Bar led 12-3 heading into the fourth quarter when Brahmas coach Kevin Hammond replaced several starters.
The Eagles made the score more respectable in the fourth on a pair of goals from Epperson, and a goal from apiece from Parker Ohland and Cobi White.
Diamond Bar Coach Kevin Hammond said his team is accustomed to the tough competition faced in the playoffs, playing in a league in which the first- and second-place teams — Ayala and Claremont — are ranked among the top 10 in Division 3.
“We’re used to playing a hard defense and trying to get some easy counterattacks,” Hammond said.
Having completed his first season as head coach, White said his team is heading in the right direction, considering he introduced a new style of play.
Looking ahead, the Eagles will be without their pool next season, as a new pool is being built on campus.
White isn’t certain where home matches will be played.
Maybe at Costa Mesa, he said.