Hewko Helps San Clemente Sink Irvine

San Clemente’s Josh Hewko scored a season-best eight goals as the Tritons defeated Irvine, 18-5, in the first round of the Southern Section Division I water polo playoffs Thursday at El Toro High.

A strong counterattack put Irvine (11-14) away early as San Clemente raced to a 5-0 first-quarter lead, with four goals coming off Vaquero turnovers. The Tritons (18-7) scored 13 times off 19 Irvine turnovers.

“That’s the strength of our game,” San Clemente Coach Marc Parker said. “We don’t have a real dominant two-meter game.”

Hewko, who leads the team with 95 goals, dominated the third quarter with four goals, three steals and two assists.

San Clemente also got a big boost from four goals from Pat McCann, who returned after missing five games because of a crack in his shooting wrist suffered at a concert two weeks ago.

The Tritons will play defending champion and second-seeded Long Beach Wilson Tuesday in the second round at a site to be determined.