Prep puts Moors away
LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE — After getting off to such a great start, the members of the Flintridge Prep boys’ water polo team weren’t about to let it all go to waste.
So, at the first sign of resistance from an overmatched Alhambra, the Rebels moved to swiftly crush the Moors’ uprising and secure a 20-4 nonleague win at home on Tuesday.
“It was a good building game,” said freshman Ethan Vandeventer, who led Prep’s high-scoring day with seven goals. “It feels good to get a win in front of our home crowd.”
Prep took a 5-0 lead in the first quarter behind three goals from junior Jack Purvis, who finished with four on the day. By the 4:33 point of the second quarter, after getting goals on their first four possessions of the period from Patrick Hickey, Kellan Rohde, Alexander Blaine and Brian Khin, the Rebels had nearly doubled the lead to 9-0.
But Prep (5-5) wouldn’t score again in the half, while the Moors put up two goals in the closing minute and Prep’s scoring drought stretched for another 2:20 into the third period, by which time the margin was clipped to 9-3.
“We were ready to close it out,” Vandeventer said. “We wanted to win this game and we really just wanted to finish it.”
Vandeventer went on a scoring tear over the next 2:00, pumping in three straight goals to bolster the Rebels’ lead to 12-3.
Purvis scored at the 2:14 mark and Vandeventer then added two more tallies inside of the final minute of the third quarter to give Prep a whopping 15-3 advantage.
The rout continued with two more unanswered goals to begin the fourth quarter, as Prep continued to hold the Moors’ offense down. Prep came up with 15 steals and held Alhambra to nine shots on goal.
On the day, Prep got three goals from Khin, two from Blaine and one apiece from Carlo Sivilotti, Hickey and freshman goalkeeper Donnie Duckworth, who finished with five saves.
With one more tune-up today at 2:15 p.m. at Arcadia, the Rebels are nearing the onset of Prep League play beginning Oct. 6 at La Salle.
“It’s important for us to realize what it takes to win and play our game,” first-year Prep Coach Dan Hare said. “We’re starting to learn what our game is, so heading into league I’m pretty excited.”