Harvard-Westlake Goes Under

Tony Azevedo scored five goals in only three quarters and Long Beach Wilson beat Harvard-Westlake, 17-10, on Saturday in a nonleague boys’ water polo match at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach.

Azevedo, who competed for the U.S. National team during the FINA World Championships in October, scored three first quarter goals and helped the Bruins (13-2) build a 7-4 lead.

Albert Garcia of Long Beach Wilson scored six goals.

Harvard-Westlake (12-4) got five goals from Mike Gross, but couldn’t keep pace with Wilson.

“Four or five of those goals [in the first quarter] were just unacceptable as far as a coach is concerned,” said Coach Rich Corso of Harvard-Westlake. “Our goal is to get back in this building at the end of the year [in the Southern Section finals].

“I’m going to break down the film of those goals in the first quarter and use them.”

The game was a rematch of the Southern Section Division I final last year, which Wilson won, 11-7.

In that game, the Wolverines provided the Bruins their toughest competition of the season, holding Azevedo to four goals.

Harvard-Westlake’s defense wasn’t up to the task this time.

Wilson, three-time defending Southern Section Division I champion, scored three uncontested goals toward the end of the first quarter and added four unanswered scores at the end of the third. Azevedo highlighted the latter stretch, scoring on a penalty shot.

Goalie Joe Axelrad of Harvard-Westlake had 15 saves, but it wasn’t nearly enough to overcome the constant pressure applied by Long Beach Wilson, which had six players score.

Even if Harvard-Westlake managed to contain Azevedo, Long Beach Wilson has too many options with its offense.

“[Azevedo] is a great player,” Corso said. “You try to double down on him, but he helps his team score, even if he doesn’t get the ball.”