Foothill Upsets No. 2 Villa Park in Water Polo . . . Maybe

Foothill had to put its celebration on hold Friday night after winning the Century League water polo title with a 9-7 upset of No. 2 Villa Park.

Moments after the sixth-ranked Knights threw the coaching staff in the pool, they learned that Villa Park Coach John Carcich had filed a protest with game officials.

Carcich protested a ruling at the end of the third quarter. After a double ejection, the Villa Park player re-entered the game early, and officials awarded Foothill a penalty shot, which Brian Alexander converted to pull the Knights within one, 7-6. Carcich said another ejection should have been given instead of the penalty shot.

For more than an hour after the game, coaches, athletic directors and game officials discussed the situation in a closed meeting. Southern Section officials were unreachable, so both teams will have to wait until this morning for a decision on the protest. If the protest is upheld, the game will probably be replayed today.

Foothill Coach Jim Brumm said it doesn’t matter whether it was the right call because Carcich didn’t file his protest immediately as required by the Southern Section rule book.

“I don’t know what is going to happen,” Brumm said. “It would really be sad if we have to bring these kids out to play again.”

If the victory stands, Foothill (16-11, 5-0) should take a big jump from its No. 7 spot in the Southern Section Division I poll. Second-ranked Villa Park (23-5, 4-1) would tumble out of its top-four position.