Water Polo ’94 : Bennett Plays a Big Role for Crescenta Valley, 12-9

So what if Joey Bennett is only 5-foot-9. Everyone’s about the same height in water polo: just a head, shoulders and arms sticking out of the water.

Bennett, grappling with larger players as the hole-man, scored four goals to lead Crescenta Valley High to a 12-9 victory over Agoura in a nonleague game on Tuesday at Agoura.

“I like it because I’m smaller and I can move around (taller opponents),” said Bennett, who scored six goals in the Falcons’ season opener against La Canada.

Bennett scored two goals 41 seconds apart late in the third quarter to give the Falcons (2-0) an 11-5 lead, their largest of the game. Agoura scored the next three goals to pull to within 11-8 with three minutes to play in the game, but could get no closer.

“They are a pretty good team,” Agoura Coach Jason Rosenthal said. “They are well-balanced. We just played flat.”

Crescenta Valley Coach Pete Loporchio said the Falcons, ranked third in the Southern Section in Division III, could also have played better.

“We need to reduce the number of errors,” he said. “We are turning the ball over too many times.”

Bennett scored the first goal 90 seconds into the game. The Falcons dominated the first quarter and led, 6-2. Agoura (1-1) missed chances when David Arons’ penalty shot hit the post in the second quarter, and when the Chargers failed to score on a 6-on-5 advantage early in the fourth quarter.

Agoura, favored by some coaches to end Royal’s 13-year streak of Marmonte League championships, took advantage of the sun, which shines in opposing goalies’ eyes during the fourth quarter at Agoura’s pool.

Agoura goalie Chris Miko scored for the second consecutive day, on a 40-foot shot. Ninety seconds later, another Miko shot sailed over goalie Andy Cushman’s head, but hit the crossbar before Joey Vona flipped it into the net, pulling Agoura to within 11-8.

Agoura’s Chris Driscoll, who led the Marmonte League with 62 goals last season, scored four times.