SOUTHERN SECTION WATER POLO PLAYOFFS : Last-Second Goal Eliminates Royal

Royal High’s water polo season ended unexpectedly early Friday when Muir scored with a second remaining to knock the host Highlanders out of the Southern Section 3-A Division playoffs, 9-8.

The eighth-ranked Highlanders led throughout the second-round match, taking a 5-3 advantage at the half and an 8-6 lead into the final period.

But, with just seconds remaining, Muir drove to the Highlanders’ end of the pool and sent a lob shot over the outstretched fingers of goalie Paul Krueger.

The Highlanders had several scoring opportunities in the second half but failed to convert on them, Royal coach Steve Snyder said.

“We had two-on-ones, three-on-ones and extra-man situations,” Snyder said.

“We couldn’t put the ball in the goal.”

Brent Hooker and Mike Radka each scored two goals for the Highlanders and Chad Templeton, Will Spencer, Tim Treglown and Chad Hood each added a goal.

In other second-round 3-A matches:

Edison 7, Crespi 6--The Celts also were eliminated on a goal in the final second.

Crespi scored with six seconds remaining to even the match, 6-6, at Golden West Community College, but that score set the stage for a desperation shot by Edison that found the back of the net with one second to play.

Crespi (22-3) trailed, 3-2, at the half but took a 4-3 lead into the final period.

Jean Michael and Vince Greco each scored twice for Crespi.

Teammates Tom Krentzin and Paul Suppa each had one goal and Tim Behrens had 15 saves in goal.

Harvard 14, Loyola 11--Sixth-seeded Harvard won easily at home. Harvard led after the first quarter and held an 8-1 advantage at the half.

Harvard (22-6) was led by Brian Border, who had four goals. Ryan Salceda and Jim Toring each added two goals. Teammates Brandon Grusd and Matt DeFronzo each scored one goal.

Senior goalie Antonio Gomez had 12 saves.

The Saracens held a comfortable lead near the end, closing the game with seven freshmen in the pool.

Harvard, a 3-A semifinalist last season, won the 2-A title in 1988.

Agoura 13, Rowland 9--Ninth-seeded Agoura led, 6-2, at halftime and cruised to win at home.

Jason DiSimone and Kevin Driscoll each scored four goals for Agoura (18-5). All-American back-stroker Jason Stelle added a goal.