Harvard-Westlake Can’t Stay Afloat in Second Half, 7-5

Trevor Wawrzynski scored twice in the third quarter to help Los Alamitos High defeat Harvard-Westlake, 7-5, in the championship game of the Jim Toring Memorial Invitational water polo tournament Saturday at Harvard-Westlake.

Wawrzynski, the tournament’s most valuable player, scored what proved to be the winning goal with 58 seconds remaining in the quarter to set up a hard-fought fourth quarter, in which Los Alamitos defense stifled the Wolverines.

“Our defense led into our offense all game, especially in the second half,” Wawrzynski said.

“Our two-meter game was outstanding, and our lane press didn’t give them many scoring chances.”

Los Alamitos jumped to a 2-0 first-quarter lead on goals by John Enete, the second on an assist by Wawrzynski.

The Wolverines tied the score, 2-2, with 5:49 left in the first half on Eric Townsend’s second goal.

The teams traded goals and were tied, 3-3, at halftime.

Harvard-Westlake took a brief 4-3 lead on a goal by Brian Ault midway through the third quarter, but let it slip away.

“We got away from our game plan in the second half,” said Rich Corso, Harvard-Westlake’s coach and the former U.S. Olympic team coach. “We got down three [goals] and it’s hard to be creative playing catch-up.

“In the past, we have been down by five and come back, but not today,” Corso said.

“Our defense played poorly in the third [quarter] and we couldn’t finish our opportunities in the fourth.”

Goalie Joe Axelrad, the starting goalkeeper for the U.S. national junior team, made 12 saves for Harvard-Westlake.

He showed the form that earned him All-American and All-Southern Section Division I honors in 1998 my making several saves at point-blank range.

Danny Coltrup had three shots turned away by Axelrad, but got an assist on Wawrzynski’s go-ahead goal with 3:28 remaining in the third quarter.

Coltrup also was involved in a controversial play in the waning seconds of the first half.

Axelrad attempted a pool-length shot, which appeared to be on target after skipping off of the water in front of Coltrup, who deflected the ball.

Corso believed the interference should have been a two-meter violation.

After a brief discussion, the referees ruled that time had expired before the deflection.

Erik Geoffrey, Joe Getner and Jeremiah Lidyoff scored for Los Alamitos.

Andrew Herr scored twice for Harvard-Westlake.

In the third-place game, Crescenta Valley defeated Long Beach Poly, 17-8.

Jeff Little scored six goals and Carlos Pelayo scored five for the Falcons.