Crescenta Valley Closes Gap Against La Serna but Falls, 6-5 : Water polo playoffs: Falcons push top-seeded team more than they did in regular-season match.
Crescenta Valley High’s run through the Southern Section Division III water polo playoffs came to an abrupt end in the semifinals thanks to a familiar opponent.
La Serna, the top-seeded team, defeated the Falcons, 6-5, on Saturday at Caltech.
But unlike the teams’ regular-season match, which La Serna won, 11-6, Crescenta Valley posed a more difficult challenge.
“We played a better ballgame today,” Falcon Coach Pete Loporchio said. “I am proud of how we battled back.”
La Serna (27-4) held the upper hand most of the match. The Lancers scored two quick goals and kept Crescenta Valley on the defensive early.
However, each time La Serna appeared on the verge of breaking it open, the Falcons (24-5) responded. Crescenta Valley scored two goals early in the fourth quarter, forcing La Serna to call a timeout.
Crescenta Valley’s Joey Bennett scored on a perfect two-on-one with Eddie Kim, closing the gap to 6-5 with 4 1/2 minutes remaining.
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