Servite Beats Esperanza, Presses On to Semifinals

Servite moved one step closer to defending its Southern Section Division II water polo title with an 8-4 victory over Esperanza in a quarterfinal playoff game Wednesday.

The Serra League champions gave a 28-minute clinic at El Dorado High, using their trademark press defense to keep the Aztecs helpless and frustrated.

“Defense is going to win the games,” Servite Coach Jim Sprague said. “I was especially proud of the play of Mike Rustemeyer, who kept up good pressure on defense.”

Rustemeyer had a team-high four steals.

For the most part, Esperanza could not drive on Servite and was kept outside, where the Aztecs had to take a lot of their shots.

And as the Servite defense held the Aztecs to 10 shots, the Friar offense racked up the goals, with Michael Kim and Dane Jensen scoring three goals each.

Kim had to work for every goal he got; he was often submerged at set. On one goal, Kim scooted the ball in while two defenders were on him and he was underwater.

“It was a very physical game,” Sprague said. “I know that these two referees let them play so it can get pretty tough out there. But Michael did a good job.”

Joshua Shadrick scored the other two goals for Servite (23-5).

Charles Odion, Bernard Steimann, Jason Vriens and Mike Bartelli scored for Esperanza, which ends the season at 16-9.

Servite will play Saddleback in the semifinals Saturday.