Agoura rolls all the way to the Division IV water polo title

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Ranked No. 1 in Division IV from the outset of the season, Agoura completed a wire-to-wire run with an 8-6 victory over second-seeded Mira Costa Saturday at Heritage Park in Irvine.

The Chargers beat the defending champion on the strength of a strong fourth-quarter performance by Peter Kurzeka.

A member of the U.S. youth national team, Kurzeka scored four goals in the second half, including three in the fourth quarter after the score was tied, 5-5.

‘In the fourth quarter they were looking for me,’ Kurzeka said of his teammates. ‘I was due. I wasn’t really shooting very well.

‘I definitely felt when it was tied and then we went down by one (5-4), this is where I’m not going to let it go any farther.’

Brandon Cross added two scores and Ryan Paris had eight saves.

‘These kids train so hard year-round, they put so much time in the water . . . As much complaining as they did at the time, they’re not complaining now,’ Coach Dustin Litvak said.

‘Mira Costa was able to swim with us better than any team in the division. In the end, we were in a little better condition and it paid off.’

Mike O’hare scored three goals for Mira Costa.

-- Martin Henderson