SOUTHERN SECTION WATER POLO : Martz Leads Trabuco Hills Into and Through Overtime

Brian Martz tied the score with 18 seconds left in regulation and scored the game-winner as time expired in overtime to give Trabuco Hills a 14-13 victory over Lompoc Cabrillo in the second round of the Southern Section Division III water polo playoffs Saturday afternoon at Trabuco Hills High.

The Mustangs (18-11) played catch-up most of the game, falling behind, 3-0, early and trailing, 12-11, with 24 seconds left.

But Martz came through to tie it 12-12, and the Mustangs held off a last-second flurry to force overtime.

In the extra period, Martz put the Mustangs ahead, 13-12, with 2:48 left, but about a minute later, Cabrillo tied the score. Both teams committed turnovers down the stretch, the final coming with eight seconds left and giving the Mustangs possession.

John Millers’ shot was pushed wide right in front of Martz, who shoved the ball across the goal line to win it.

Trabuco Hills will face Dos Pueblos, a 14-13 overtime winner over Los Altos Saturday, in Wednesday’s quarterfinals.

“We expected them to be tough,” Trabuco Hills Coach Chris Shore said. “We blew early opportunities to capitalize, and we had trouble shutting them down. It was a classic showdown, and they are a very good team.”

Martz finished with seven goals, and improved his season total to 92. K.C. Nance scored three goals and Charles Macki added two for Mustangs.

Cabrillo (23-4) was led by four goals each from John Argel and Matt Laurence.

In other Division III matches:

Brea-Olinda 14, Hemet 5--Tucker Lowe scored five goals and Tad Murphy added four to lead Brea-Olinda (20-8) to a quarterfinal match against South Pasadena, which defeated Charter Oak, 18-9.

Costa Mesa 16, Temple City 7--John Naigle scored five goals, and Bob Paulhus added four to lead second-seeded Costa Mesa (22-7), which will play San Marcos, a 14-10 winner over Hacienda Heights Wilson, in the quarterfinals.

Santa Barbara 17, Magnolia 9--Magnolia finished the season 17-11 with the loss to third-seeded Santa Barbara.