PREP ROUNDUP : Villa Park’s Defense Helps Beat Canyon in Water Polo

Ask Villa Park water polo Coach Rick Rowland about a Century League championship and he’ll get defensive.

And that’s how Rowland and co-coach Jeff Ehrlich had their team playing during Villa Park’s 13-6 Century League victory over Canyon Wednesday at Canyon High School.

The victory sent Villa Park (15-6, 3-0), the seventh-ranked team in the Southern Section Division 4-A, to a potential league championship showdown with Foothill Nov. 6.

“It may come down to (Villa Park) and Foothill,” Rowland said. “But next week, we still have to get by Orange while Foothill hosts Canyon (Oct. 30).

“Today, we were sky high; this team is really focused right now,” Rowland said.

Villa Park’s defense showed its focus, holding Canyon (10-7, 2-1) without a shot on goal for the first 3 1/2 minutes of the game.

“Our defense is what has gotten us this far,” Rowland said.

While Villa Park’s defense shut down Canyon, Paul Brockmeier started the offense, scoring two goals in the first quarter to help the Spartans to a 4-1 lead. Randy Larson led the Spartans with four goals and Kory Cosca had three.

Villa Park’s offense also sparkled in its six-on-five situations, scoring six goals in nine opportunities.

Dave Kasa, who scored two goals, was the only Canyon player with more than one goal. Kasa scored both his goals in the second quarter, including the four-meter penalty shot that got Canyon to within 6-3 at halftime.

But Villa Park scored five of the next six goals to put the game away. Steve Reese’s goal on a lob over Canyon goalie Eric Cappalletti gave the Spartans an 11-4 lead with five minutes remaining.

Canyon played without two-meter man Miguel Franco, who sat out the game with a shoulder injury.

“During a summer game when they had Franco, we beat Canyon in sudden death,” Rowland said. “They definitely miss him.”