WATER POLO ROUNDUP : El Dorado Opens Empire League Play With 12-8 Victory Over Cypress

El Dorado exacted a bit of revenge by defeating Cypress, 12-8, in the Empire League water polo opener Wednesday at El Dorado High.

After losing the last two league titles to Cypress, El Dorado Coach Michael Ashe knew the game could make or break his season.

“We knew this was what the league was going to be about this year,” Ashe said. “They beat us the last two years and they were feeling pretty confident.”

El Dorado (7-5, 1-0) struck first, scoring the only goal of the opening quarter. Amanda Gall took a pass from Ryan Hammersmith and beat Centurion goalie Danny Bishop with four minutes left.

The Hawks took a 2-0 lead less than a minute into the second quarter, when Kendall Benson scored on a penalty shot.

Cypress (5-4, 0-1) pulled even with goals by Erik Sandvig and Alex Fotinakes. After Benson gave the Hawks a 3-2 lead, Dave Watkins and Sandvig scored to give the Centurions a 4-3 halftime lead.

Both teams scored to open the third quarter. Watkins scored two more goals for Cypress and El Dorado’s Luke Byward and Robert Sellek each scored once.

Gall scored her second goal to tie the score and Scott Hammond’s goal gave El Dorado a 6-5 lead.

Gall opened the fourth quarter with her third goal and, after a Cypress goal, Hammond scored with a man advantage, giving El Dorado a 9-7 lead.

Fotinakes scored his second goal to pull the Centurions within one, but Cypress got no closer.

Don Jo had two goals and Benson added one to close the scoring.

Nathan Fay recorded seven saves for El Dorado and Bishop had nine for Cypress.

“We could have played a lot smarter,” Ashe said. “Cypress is a good team, there is no discarding that.”