Royal Thwarted in Quarterfinals by Esperanza : High school water polo: Highlanders stay close early, but Aztecs score six straight goals in second half to put match away, 15-8.

Esperanza High broke open a close match with six consecutive goals in the second half on its way to a 15-8 victory over Royal in the quarterfinals of the Southern Section Division II water polo playoffs Wednesday at Esperanza.

Ian Ching led Esperanza (19-8) with five goals. Eric Dudley and Andy Bruininea each scored three goals for Royal.

Royal erased an early 2-0 deficit to pull within 7-6 at halftime, led by Bruininea’s three first-half goals.

But the match seemed to turn on one play early in the third quarter. Jeremy Pickles, who scored more than 100 times this season for the Highlanders (21-6), was in front of the Esperanza goal, but his point-blank shot was turned away by goalie Pete Lange, who finished with nine saves.

Twenty seconds later, Brian Bruns scored for Esperanza, and Ching followed a minute later with a goal on a breakaway, giving the Aztecs a 9-6 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Ching added two fourth-quarter goals to help put Royal away.

“We were able to exploit their fatigue in the second half,” Esperanza Coach Doug Kimberly said. “We try to play tougher in the second half--that’s something we train for.”

Ching, the high scorer, was also given the assignment of checking Pickles on defense, and he held the Royal standout to one goal.