Water polo: No. 1 Harvard-Westlake defeats No. 2 Mater Dei in emotional match

You knew something big was happening on Tuesday at Harvard-Westlake’s swim stadium. The place was packed with fans, and there was a Harvard-Westlake student dressed from head to toe in a red leotard suit that made him look like a super hero.

It was No. 1 Harvard-Westlake vs. No. 2 Santa Ana Mater Dei in a matchup between perhaps the two best teams in high school water polo. And what a match it was, with Harvard-Westlake winning, 11-7.

The fans were loud, the players were emotional and the coaches never stopped coaching. Well, Mater Dei Coach Chris Segesman got an early exit after being ejected in the third quarter because of a red card.

There were 22 exclusions, lots of fists pumps and the rarest of the rare _ Harvard-Westlake goalie Anthony Ridgley received a 20-second minor act of misconduct after getting into pushing match with a Mater Dei player.

“I’ve never seen that in 17 years,” Harvard-Westlake Coach Brian Flacks said of a goalie getting put into the penalty box.

It was all part of a memorable battle between two schools that figure to meet again next week in the North-South tournament, then face off again in the Southern Section Division 1 final.

“It was one of the craziest games I’ve ever played in,” said Harvard-Westlake’s Johnny Hooper, who had three goals. “There were so many red cards and ejections. We held it together. We kept our cool.”

Ben Hallock also had three goals for the Wolverines, who are 16-0. Mater Dei (12-3) received three goals from Matthew Payne.

The players shook hands afterward.

“I really respect their team,” Hooper said.

The two schools met in last year’s Division 1 final, with Harvard-Westlake winning. The Wolverines now have a three-game win streak against the Monarchs.

Twitter:@LATSondheimer