Jackson’s Overtime Goal Is a Winner, 7-6

Harvard-Westlake High played a different kind of water polo game on Tuesday: A close one.

Nevertheless, Jeanine Jackson’s goal from seven meters was the only score in overtime, giving host Harvard-Westlake a 7-6 victory over Agoura in a Southern Section Division II quarterfinal game.

Harvard-Westlake (22-1), seeded No. 4, will face top-seeded Santa Barbara in a semifinal game Thursday at an alternate site. Santa Barbara defeated Santa Ynez, 14-5, Tuesday.

Agoura (21-6), the Marmonte League champion, had lost to the Wolverines in a tournament game this season, but the Chargers gave Harvard-Westlake all it could handle in the rematch.

In a game that was tied six times, defense was key.

Harvard-Westlake defenders were draped on the Chargers like a wet towel and were whistled for 15 ejections. Four starters fouled out in regulation, leaving the Wolverines’ fate in the hands of reserves.

“In the playoffs, you take it anyway you can get it,” Wolverine Coach Rich Corso said. “Our bench was great today.”

Agoura, which had six ejections, did little with its 15 six-on-five opportunities, scoring only three times.

“We didn’t take advantage of our man-up opportunities,” Agoura Coach Jason Rosenthal said. “We just couldn’t get the ball in the goal like we would have liked to.”

Agoura led, 1-0, 2-1 and 5-4. But the Wolverines tied the score, 5-5, early in the fourth quarter when Jackson fired from two meters, capitalizing seconds after Agoura’s Erica Montgomery was ejected.

Harvard-Westlake took a 6-5 lead less than one minute later on Liz Blaze’s second goal, a bullet from two meters.

With Harvard-Westlake’s Monica Paz ejected, Dede Perram’s goal off an assist from Joanna Antonsen tied the score, 6-6, with 2:55 remaining in regulation.

Jackson’s third goal came 1:30 into the first of two three-minute overtime periods.

Agoura keyed on Jackson, a junior national player, with double coverage and continuous switches on defense.

“All of that works to confuse [us] and it worked to an extent,” Jackson said. “But when it counted, I put it away.”