Nathan Hanning of La Quinta High broke...

Nathan Hanning of La Quinta High broke his county water polo record Tuesday night, but his sister’s error almost got him ejected from the pool at Golden West College before he could accomplish the feat.

Hanning, a senior two-meter man, was halfway through his 22-goal performance in the third quarter of a 27-5 water polo victory over Rancho Alamitos when sister Nicole, the Aztec statistician, told referees she had recorded her brother’s third kick-out foul and that he should be disqualified from the match.

Game officials quickly reviewed Nicole’s statistics sheet and determined that her brother had only two fouls. He was allowed to continue playing.

“I just went out there and did my best and it came out to 22 goals. That’s all I know,” Hanning said.

He scored 10 goals in the first half and 12 in the second. Hanning broke the mark of 18 goals he set in two other games this season, according to La Quinta Athletic Director Jim Perry.

The 22-goal performance was the third-best in Southern Section history, according to the record books.

Kevin Parkes of Colton scored 24 goals in 1979 against Palm Springs and Gilbert Estrada of Bell Gardens scored 23 goals in 1989 against Whittier California.

The previous county record of 16 goals was set by Charles Pierce of Magnolia in 1984.