Despite defensive effort, Hoover High girls’ water polo loses close one to Louisville

BURBANK — There wasn’t much that Hoover High goalie Gabriela Perez didn’t do for her team in its opening game of the Burbank High girls’ water polo tournament Friday afternoon.

Perez halted more than 10 shots on goal, nabbed a few steals and was part of a defensive unit that iced opponent Louisville in every man-advantage opportunity in the team’s meeting at Burbank.

About the only thing Perez didn’t do or is supposed to do is score goals, which Hoover lacked in a 3-1 defeat.

With the setback, the Tornadoes dropped to 0-3 this season and will be back in action Saturday morning at 9:50 versus Los Angeles Marlborough.

“Our defense and our counter-attack are coming along nicely this season,” said Hoover High Coach Kevin Witt, who doubles as the boys’ coach in the fall. “Our shot selection wasn’t there, though. We’re getting open looks, but we’re either throwing it right at the goalie or too hard and are throwing it away. We’ll have to do better.”

Hoover’s defense bordered on stellar Friday afternoon, especially considering the stats.

The Tornadoes held the Royals (2-5) to 0 for six on six-on-five chances, with only three shots on goal during those attempts. Even Louisville driver Meaghan Lisy missed wide on a five-meter penalty try in the first quarter.

Yet, despite those stats, Louisville held a 2-1 advantage entering the fourth quarter and pressured the Tornadoes defense.

Perez made one-handed saves versus Louisville’s Bridget Abbene on close-range shots almost exactly a minute apart from each other, with the second block taking place with 3:30 remaining in the contest.

Hoover then had its best chance on the following possession when the Royals played short-handed due to a kickout of Sophia Tzavalas.

Yet, a Tornadoes’ shot on goal was snuffed out by Louisville goalie Leilah Yanni (15 saves) with just over three minutes left.

Hoover had only one other solid look in the final frame when a shot from Lalageh Noubarentz with 38.71 seconds left was deflected out of play.

Shortly after that shot, Yanni led a quick counter-attack in which she fed teammate Emily Polis, who scored the final goal one-on-one versus Perez with 12.92 seconds left to cement the game.

“Even though they got that last goal there, I was proud of my defense,” said Perez, who finished with 12 saves and three steals. “I never felt like I was alone. They were working with me and we almost got the win.”

Louisville’s Isabella Lipp got the scoring going with a goal at 4:52 in the first quarter off an assist from Abi Miller.

It was over a quarter and a half later when another ball crossed the goal line as Lisy was called for a penalty inside two meters against Hoover’s Naeiri Didarlou.

The foul resulted in a penalty shot that Didarlou banked in off the post that knotted the score at 1 with 3:46 left in the third.

“Those are the kind of shots we need to take, corner shots,” Didarlou said. “We take too many shots at the goalie’s feet.

“We’re getting close, though. I’m optimistic and I think our first win is coming soon.”

The Royals netted the game-winner with 32.56 seconds left in the third on a goal from Lisy, who created separation off a foul by a Tornadoes’ defender.

After that goal, Hoover had five shots throughout the rest of the game, but never found the equalizer.