Since my family moved to this valley 19 years ago next week, it seems to me the Murrieta Valley Nighthawk?s boys water polo team has always been on top.
While that has not always been the case, it is darn near true.
Once again, the 2012 variety proved to be the case.
This past Saturday, the boys' deep reach into the CIF Division 2 playoffs was cut short by way of a loss to last year?s Division 3 champions, Laguna Beach. The final score: 10-8.
The Nighthawks' season tally was 23 wins, 12 losses.
These two teams also played one another back on Oct. 15.? The Breakers won that match 11-6.
A previous assignment to cover the CIF-Southern Section cross country prelims at Mt. SAC interfered with my availability to go watch the pool action in Laguna Beach.
The Laguna Beach Breakers were undefeated in Orange Coast League play and are now 21-9.
Thanks to Facebook, I was able to catch up with three of the Nighthawk players.
Christopher Matthews, one of only three MV seniors on this year?s team, had some perspective to share on the season.
?Playing water polo at MV has been one of the most rewarding experiences anyone could ever go through if you attend MV,? Matthews said.
?My favorite moment from this season has been all of it,? he said.? ?There has been no moment that is greater than the whole. Being a part of this team is a whole new experience like one you couldn't believe.?
Speaking to the family atmosphere many players experience from such tight-knit association, Matthews said, ?...everyone has everyone else's back.? It really is an amazing thing being on this team.? That's why my favorite part of this season is the season itself.?
Murrieta Valley was ahead 3-2 after one quarter and were on top at halftime, 5-3.
Nighthawk junior Tristan Reinhardt reflected on the tough loss.
?We competed the whole game ?til the very end. We were up the whole game until the fourth quarter when we went tied at 6-6--which is pretty much 0-0," Reinhardt said.
?Laguna Beach is a very good team and we both competed at a very high level. . . . [T]hey executed in that last quarter when they needed to and we did not," Reidnhardt said.
Nighthawks scoring goals in their season-ending game were:
Evan Price 3
Tristan Reinhardt 2
Talon Gay 1
Ben Schleuniger 1
Tyler Dudek 1
Bryse Knowles came through with 10 saves
Senior Chip Zinna praised Nighthawks Water Polo Coach Bryan Lynton for his ability to get the best out of an athlete.
?The best thing about coach I think is that he always expects greatness, and nothing less. That's why I feel like this program is so strong," Zinna wrote.
?Every single game even if we were winning by 10 we had to execute. [Coach Lynton] expects you to work hard in and out of the pool and to put out 100% effort. He's a great coach and I'm extremely happy to have played for [him] these past four years," Zinna wrote.
Next up for Coach Lynton?s Nighthawks is playing club ball, preparing for swim season in the spring and watching from the stands as they root for the Nighthawk girls water polo team?also coached by Lynton.
Laguna Beach next plays Santa Barbara in the semi-finals.
Southwestern League
Vista Murrieta?s boys finished second in league play and had a play-in water polo match last Tuesday. They won that wild-card game against Canyon (Anaheim), 14-11. At Saturday?s quarterfinal match, the Dos Pueblos Chargers of Goleta put a stop to the Broncos? dreams of advancing with a 13-7 victory.
Great Oak finished third in league and also played a wild-card game, beating Chino Hills 16-7. The Wolfpack traveled to Santa Barbara on Thursday but didn?t stand a chance against the powerful Dons, losing 18-7.
Chaparral got an at-large bid and played their wild-card game at Costa Mesa, coming home with a win, 14-10.? On Thursday, Damien showed them the door with a convincing 18-8 thumping.
Sunbelt League
Lakeside fared well in first-round action, netting just enough goals against host Nogales to go home Thursday with a 14-13 win. The Lancers weren?t nearly as fortunate on Saturday as they played powerhouse La Quinta and were handed their tails in a 19-2 loss.
Temescal Canyon is still in the hunt. On Thursday, they won the first-round game against Cabrillo (Lompoc) 14-6. They won their quarterfinal match against Hemet, 11-7.? This Wednesday, they battle Oaks Christian in the Mt. SAC pool.
As the only area school still having a chance, consider going to watch and support the Titans. Game time is 3 p.m.
Source: http://murrieta.patch.com/articles/sports-fan-s-perspective-nighthawk-boys-water-polo
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