Mustangs reign

Steve Virgen

There didn’t seem to be a rivalry present between the boys water polo

teams of Costa Mesa High and Estancia Tuesday because the Mustangs

won easily.

However, the rivalry was still apparent, as there were several

moments of physical play. But that was all just a sideshow and you

could say Mesa was the main attraction.

The Mustangs built an 8-0 lead in the first quarter and continued

to show their speed to coast to a 19-4 Golden West League victory

over Estancia. Mesa sophomore Kyle Thorsness led the Mustangs (10-5,

3-1 in league) with five goals.

But the Mustangs weren’t all about Thorsness. They also had

juniors Anthony Adamowicz and Evan Spencer score four goals each and

senior Brian Tipton added three. Goal scoring was only one of many

areas the Mustangs possessed the advantage.

“Overall we just swim faster than they do,” Mesa Coach Bob Shupp

said. “They do have a few good swimmers, but as a team, we are just

faster. And, our defense was good. They couldn’t get their offense

going.”

Estancia coach John Carpenter concurred. He gave much respect and

credit to the Mustangs and he never discussed a possible excuse that

the Eagles are down in participation numbers.

“We couldn’t swim with them,” Carpenter said. “We couldn’t stop

their counterattack. They have a better team. They just have a really

good team.”

The Eagles (5-10, 0-4) had three players that were majored, and

had to play most of the fourth quarter with five players. Shupp took

out one of his players so that the game would be even, five on five.

Mesa also ran out the shot clock through most of the final quarter to

prevent from scoring more.

Mesa drew nine ejections, while Estancia drew a season-high six, a

result of physical play from the two teams.

“We don’t play into the talk of the rivalry,” Shupp said. “We try

to play it down. We don’t need the kids to get any tighter. It’s one

of those things where it’s a natural rivalry and we already know it’s

going to be there.”

The Mustangs appeared to have an added incentive in the first

quarter as they built their 8-0 lead. Thorsness started the run with

5:35 remaining in the first.

Adamowicz scored the next two, then Sergio Hernandez added a goal

on a six-on-five situation.

Tipton scored twice in 32 seconds, once on a weak-side chance, and

the other from the outside, to put Mesa up, 6-0. Less than a minute

later, Adamowicz scored on a counterattack and he capped the quarter

with a power-play goal with 33 seconds left.

Estancia scored its first goal with 3:59 left before halftime when

junior Richard McElveny connected from the outside. Senior Anthony

Hermann had two goals for the Eagles, and Matt Metkovich added one.

Mesa senior Brian Knox scored twice, while goalie Matt Jaroslawski

recorded seven saves. Estancia senior goalie Nathan Marsteller

stopped 10 shots.

*--*

Golden West League

Costa Mesa 19, Estancia 4

Score by Quarters

Estancia 0 2 2 0 -- 4

Mesa 8 4 4 3 -- 19

Estancia -- Hermann 2, Metkovich 1, McElveny 1.

Saves -- Marsteller 10. Mesa -- Thorsness 5,

Adamowicz 4, Spencer 4, Tipton 3, Knox 2,

Hernandez 1. Saves -- Jaroslawski 7.

*--*