Mustangs roll through Saints

Costa Mesa High’s boys water polo team played a decent first half

Tuesday.

Then, it turned the third period into shooting practice as if

Santa Ana wasn’t even in the pool.

The Mustangs scored the first two goals of the match in opening 44

seconds by senior Kyle Thorsness on assists from Sam Edman and Nick

Fisk as Mesa coasted to a 20-9 Golden West League win.

Later in the first period, Thorsness added two additional goals.

Santa Ana, down 4-0, scored its first goal at 1:45.

With four seconds left, Edman scored his first goal. The sophomore

fired a shot from the left 10 yards away on the right side of the

net.

In the second quarter, Santa Ana was able to keep up with Costa

Mesa. Each team scored two goals. Edman scored two goals at the

beginning of the period. He scored his first goal on a penalty shot.

“Edman was one of the guys that really impressed me,” said Costa

Mesa head coach Tim Postiff.

Santa Ana retaliated with two goals in the last 64 seconds of the

half. With 35 seconds left in the match, Alvaro Alvarado made a shot

that was deflected by Mustang goalkeeper Scott Neslage, but the shot

slithered into the back the goal.

In the third period, junior John Roche jump started the second

scoring three goals and making three key steals in the quarter.

Roche scored his first goal at the 6:09 mark. After a Roche steal

and outlet pass to Thorsness, Thorsness returned the ball to Roche

for his second score. The junior larcenist made his third steal of

the quarter on a Santa Ana goalkeeper’s outlet pass that was passed

to Chris Medina and back to Roche for another score.

Nick Fisk scored only one goal in the match, but he showed great

persistence on his score. Thorsness found Fisk on a breakaway. The

senior’s initial shot clanged off the crossbar, but Fisk was able to

pick up the carom, and fling his second attempt into the goal.

“In the third quarter, we really turned up our pressure, and our

intensity into offense” said Postiff.

Thorsness led Mesa with seven goals in the match. Edman and Roche

also contributed six scores. For Santa Ana, Ivan Lemus and Alvaro

Alvarado led the Saints with three goals apiece.

Mustang goalkeeper Nesleage was bombarded with 25 shots. The

junior was able to make nine saves. Mesa (11-2, 2-0 in league) will

play a nonleague match at Tustin Friday.

Golden West League

Costa Mesa 20,

Santa Ana 9

Score by Quarters

*--*

Santa Ana 1 2 2 4 -- 9

Costa Mesa 5 2 9 4 -- 20

*--*

Santa Ana -- Lemus 3, Alvarado 3, JP Guiterrez 2, Espinos 1. Saves

-- Moran 10.

Costa Mesa -- Thorsnes 7, Edman 6, Roche 6, N. Fisk 1. Saves --

Nesleage 10.