CV hits a bump in road

GLENDALE — There’s been plenty of good days for the Crescenta Valley High girls’ water polo team during its current dominant run this season, but Saturday wasn’t one of them.

While mentally preoccupied by concerns for players and peers who were affected by the mudslides and rain damage to homes Saturday morning in the La Crescenta foothills, the Falcons traveled by bus to Whittier, where they were dealt a sound 15-2 nonleague defeat by La Serna.

“There was a lot going on in their minds,” Crescenta Valley Coach Pete Loporchio.” It was tough for them to concentrate.”

Crescenta Valley (23-4), the fourth-ranked squad in CIF Southern Section Division 4, struggled mightily with its shooting against La Serna, which is currently ranked seventh in Division 3. The Falcons put up 20 shots on the day to finish with easily their worst field-goal percentage of the season.

The Falcons’ top offensive player, junior utility Kim Fraisse, scored just a single goal while being bothered by an ear infection. Junior driver Christine Cho provided the only other tally for Crescenta Valley.

“She was a little bit under the weather,” Loporchio said of Fraisse. “Our offense hinges on her and she’s been dealing with this thing for the last couple of days.”

Michaela Pierandozzi led balanced La Serna, which has now defeated Crescenta Valley twice this season, with six goals.

“They have some phenomenal players,” said Loporchio, who cited the total of nine club players currently on La Serna’s roster. “They execute so well and they play very well together.”

Crescenta Valley will need to shake off the bad weekend quickly, as it is set to face fourth-seeded Burroughs in the opening round of the two-day Pacific League championship tournament at 5 p.m. on Tuesday at Burbank High.

The Falcons are the No. 1 seed after finishing the regular season 6-0 in league.

Crescenta Valley’s last defeat came on Jan. 14, when it lost to division rival South Pasadena, 11-8, in a nonleague contest.