Los Alamitos Crushes Esperanza in Water Polo

Los Alamitos, ranked third in Orange County, and fifth-ranked Esperanza clashed in a key Sunset League water polo game Wednesday at Golden West College, but the last thing anyone expected was a 14-6 blowout by the Griffins.

Los Alamitos (14-5, 2-0 in league), ranked No. 1 in Division II, scored three goals in a 2 1/2-minute span in the first quarter to take control, 4-1, before extending the lead to six by halftime.

“They got off to a fast start and took the wind out of our sails real early,” Esperanza Coach Doug Kimberly said. “We pressed offensively when they got the big lead and never gave ourselves a chance to get back in the game.

“But that’s because they forced us into that by playing so well defensively and offensively. Hats off to Los Al.”

Steve Hann scored his fifth goal of the game in the fourth quarter to give Los Alamitos its biggest lead, 13-4. He also led a balanced offense that flustered Esperanza (11-4, 1-1), ranked second in Division II, with its quick counter-attacks.

John Pearce scored four goals, David Kong had three and Tyler Wawrzynski added two for the Griffins, who are seeking their first Sunset League title and first Southern Section water polo championship in school history.

“We haven’t beaten Esperanza in four or five years, so our guys were ready for this one,” Los Alamitos Coach Tony Martinho said. “Sure, this is a great win, but we probably have to work harder now.

“We have three more big league games left and we still have a lot of goals.”

The Griffins haven’t reached a section final since 1987, but the way they buried the Aztecs Wednesday, they showed championship flashes.

Los Alamitos’ suffocating defense limited Esperanza to mostly perimeter shots, and its top scorers, Brian Mericle, who had three goals, and Chad Simendinger, who had two, were held in check.

Esperanza even struggled when it gained a man-advantage situation, scoring on only one of five opportunities before the final four minutes when the game was out of reach.

“We’ll have to look at the film to see exactly where we fell apart offensively and defensively,” Kimberly said. “And I don’t really think we’re six or seven goals worse than Los Al.

“I’d like to see them again down the road, but we have some growing up to do.”