Cagey Style

They call it the cage.

A water polo goalie is supposed to remain there, as if trapped behind imaginary bars, to prevent opponents’ shots from passing. An absent goalie makes the cage vulnerable to attack.

But Brian Hasbrouck of Crescenta Valley High prefers not to be caged in.

The 6-foot-1, 165-pound senior often strays from the goal to double-team opponents, chase down loose balls and intercept passes. Last week against Arcadia, he broke up a fast break in the middle of the pool.

“I figure why should I have to try and stop a close-range shot if I can get the ball,” Hasbrouck said. “I don’t want to force myself to have to make a big play, and I’m quick enough to go out and get it.”

Hasbrouck’s risky style of goaltending has produced impressive results.

He leads Crescenta Valley with 123 steals after topping the squad with 95 last season.

Crescenta Valley finished the regular season 19-3 and ranked third in the Southern Section Division III poll.

Only highly ranked Harvard-Westlake and Mira Costa reached double figures in goals against Hasbrouck, who will lead the Pacific League champions against San Marino in a playoff opener at 3:15 p.m. Thursday at Crescenta Valley.

“There’s no question that we wouldn’t be where we are without him,” Falcon Coach Pete Loporchio said. “He’s made a good team very good. Last year, he made an average team look good. That’s a luxury you don’t have every year.”

Hasbrouck set a school record last season with 306 saves and had 156 as a part-time player as a sophomore. This season, he has 201 saves entering the playoffs. His career total of 663 is eighth all-time in the Southern Section.

A member of the Falcon 400-meter relay team that qualified for the Southern Section swimming championships last winter, Hasbrouck is the fastest goalie in the area. His swimming speed allows him to play aggressively.

“You typically find that the goalies are classified as the slower swimmers on the team,” Loporchio said. “So speed is a valuable asset to have. I push him to utilize that--to go out a little farther and challenge the ball.”

Harvard-Westlake Coach Rich Corso, who runs a goalie camp in the summer and was coach of the 1996 U.S. Olympic team, said a well-rounded goalie is a big advantage.

“You can’t be somebody who’s just going to block the ball,” Corso said. “Depending on the type of defense you run, the goalie can be an extra defender. He has to be mobile and he has to have the complete knowledge of a field player.”

Loporchio plays Hasbrouck in the field on occasion, leading to him scoring three goals.

Hasbrouck adapted to goalie the first time he played it, during tryouts for an age-group team as an eighth-grader. A long wingspan contributed to Hasbrouck playing goalie, but what has kept him there is his attitude.

“You have to have a certain mindset to play goalie,” Loporchio said. “You don’t find too many 14- or 15-year-olds who like to get hit in the face with the ball. Brian was fearless.”

The turning point in Hasbrouck’s career came in his sophomore season. In a six-overtime playoff loss to Mira Costa, he had 28 saves. It was the fourth-highest save total in Southern Section history entering this season.

“That really was an eye-opener for him as far as showing him the level he could attain,” Loporchio said. “And it’s carried over. His [strength] is rising to the challenge of big games.”

The student body president, Hasbrouck is active out of the water as well. He is interested in attending the Air Force Academy, though colorblindness would prevent him from flying jet fighters.

Hasbrouck has trouble distinguishing between red and brown.

But when that big, yellow ball is coming at him against a backdrop of blue water, he has no problem picking it out.