El Toro Shows San Clemente Who’s Best

With South Coast League supremacy at stake, junior Brett McCleave came through in the clutch Thursday as No. 4-ranked El Toro defeated No. 3 San Clemente, 9-7, in a boys’ water polo game at El Toro High.

McCleave, a 6-foot-4 two-meter man, scored all three of his goals in the fourth quarter, including the winner with 2:54 left in the game between the South Coast League’s two best teams.

“Coach wanted me to get at it, and I think I handled it pretty well,” McCleave said.

McCleave was particularly impressive at hole set, where he scored the game’s final goal with two defenders clinging to him.

El Toro took a 5-2 lead in the second quarter on goals by Rich Schwanbeck, Tim Craycraft, who had three goals in the game, and Matt Fortney. But junior Pat McCann scored to bring San Clemente within two.

San Clemente (10-6, 1-1 in league) scored two goals in the third quarter and El Toro scored one to make it 6-5.

McCann scored his second goal at the start of the fourth quarter to tie it, but McCleave answered 30 seconds later to give El Toro the lead.

San Clemente’s Josh Hewko tied the score with his second goal at the 4:35 mark. But McCleave took control and scored the last two goals.

El Toro (18-3, 2-0), which rejoined the South Coast League this season, moving from the Sea View League, now has the upper hand over defending champion San Clemente.