Community College Roundup : Orange Coast Clinches League Title With 13-11 Overtime Water Polo Win

Orange Coast College clinched the Orange Empire Conference water polo championship Tuesday with a 13-11 overtime victory over Saddleback at Costa Mesa.

Mike Bunge broke an 11-11 tie with a goal in the first of the two, three-minute overtimes. Karl Stewart, who led all scorers with five goals, scored the game’s final goal during the last three minutes.

The Pirates (13-0, 23-4) played the overtime periods without their leading scorer, Eric Keller, who was ejected after being called for his third personal foul with 10 seconds left in regulation.

Keller had scored a school-record 12 goals against the Gauchos in their first meeting, but he was limited to two goals Tuesday.

Each team had chances to break the tie during the final 30 seconds of regulation, but OCC turned the ball over, and Saddleback (11-3, 17-6-1) had its final shot sail over the goal.

OCC goalie Dave Cohen had 15 saves, six of which came in one-on-one situations.

“Cohen played very well today,” Don Watson, OCC coach, said. “That’s about as good a game as I’ve ever seen a community college goalie play.”

Eric Long led Gaucho scorers with five goals.