Burroughs water polo seizes first victory against La Salle

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Burroughs’ Marko Vucetic scores a point with La Salle’s Evan Hansen defending during a match on Tuesday, September 8, 2015. (Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)

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Burroughs’ Brenner Goldesen makes a goal attempt during a match against La Salle on Tuesday, September 8, 2015. (Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)

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Burroughs’ goalie Cameron Flosi blocks a La Salle shot attempt during a match on Tuesday, September 8, 2015. (Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)

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Burroughs’ LJ Burns defends against La Salle’s Duncan McDonald during a match on Tuesday, September 8, 2015. (Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)

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Burroughs’ Daniel Garia lobs a pass over La Salle’s Michael Piesik during a match on Tuesday, September 8, 2015. (Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)

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Burroughs’ goalie David Jimenez blocks a La Salle goal attempt during a match on Tuesday, September 8, 2015. (Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)

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Burroughs’ Daniel Garia makes a goal attempt past La Salle defender Evan Hansen during a match on Tuesday, September 8, 2015. (Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)

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Burroughs’ Gevo Hagopian looks for the goal as La Salle’s Michael Piesik defends during a match on Tuesday, September 8, 2015. (Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)

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Burroughs’ Marko Vucetic battles toward the goal with La Salle’s Duncan McDonald defending during a match on Tuesday, September 8, 2015. (Roger Wilson/Staff Photographer)

By Jeff Tully, <em><a href=”mailto:jeff.tully@latimes.com”>jeff.tully@latimes.com</a></em>

Sept. 8, 2015 6:27 PM PT

BURBANK — After losing their first two matches of the season, the Burroughs High boys’ water polo players were hungry for a win.

The Indians got their chance to get on the positive side of the docket Tuesday afternoon when they hosted La Salle in a nonleague contest.

Burroughs came out aggressively from the start, leaving the Lancers a bit shellshocked and, behind a standout effort from sophomore Marko Vucetic, rolled to an 18-6 victory.

PHOTOS: Burroughs takes care of La Salle, 18-6

“Those two losses left a bad taste in our moths,” said Burroughs Coach Jacob Cook, whose squad dropped decisions to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame and Monrovia last week. “They really wanted to get that win.

“We talked about coming out and getting a good start. I was happy with the way we were able to do that today. We did some good things, but we still have a long way to go.”

The Indians (1-2) set the tone of the match from the opening moments. Burroughs got its offensive clicking right away and its defense clamped down on the La Salle (1-2) ball-handlers.

Along with his play on defense, Vucetic was dominating on offense in the opening quarter. Vucetic, who tallied six goals, scored three goals on three shots to open the contest to give Burroughs a 3-0 advantage at the 5:07 mark of the opening quarter.

Aram Nordanyan had five goals, Daniel Garia and Brenner Goldsen tallied two apiece and Hagopian, Jerry Solano and LJ Burns had one each.

In the first quarter, the Indians tallied six steals compared to zero for the Lancers. Vucetic collected three steals in the opening stanza. Gevo Hagopian led Burroughs with five steals on the day.

The Burroughs defense also did a good job at limiting La Salle on man-advantage opportunities. The Lancers were able to convert just one of seven of those chances in the game.

“When you can limit a team to just one goal in that many chances you’re playing good defense,” Cook said.

After La Salle got the lead down to two, the Indians scored the next four goals to take a 7-1 lead after one quarter.

“We really wanted to get the win and it was important for us to redeem ourselves after our last two games because that’s not what we wanted,” Vucetic said. “We knew we were better than that.

“I’m just glad we got off to a good start in the first quarter because that really helped us.”

Following a quick score by the Lancers in the second quarter, Burroughs responded with four straight goals to increase its advantage to 12-2 with 2:17 left. La Salle tallied a late goal and the Indians went into the half with a 12-3 lead.

The Lancers converted just three of 12 shots in the first half.

Burroughs slowed a bit in the third quarter, but still went into the final stanza leading, 15-5.

Cameron Flosi and David Jimenez split time in goal to combine for the win.