Ocean View boys’ water polo rallies, but falls to Crean Lutheran in Division 6 title match

The Ocean View High School boys’ water polo team almost didn’t even have a season.

With things set to get underway, senior Kyle Ayers said the Seahawks had just five players. At least seven are needed to field a squad.

Three freshmen — Josh Louw, Connor Davidson and Santiago Valle — decided to sign on. And midway through the season, Ayers said that fellow seniors Spencer Baker and Dylan Simonds came back to play on the team as well.

The Seahawks had a still-small 10-player roster. But they accomplished mighty things.

Ocean View advanced to its first CIF championship game in program history. And though Saturday morning’s 12-9 loss to top-seeded Crean Lutheran in the CIF Southern Section Division 6 title match at Irvine’s Woollett Aquatics Center didn’t go the way the Seahawks wanted, they could still take pride in a magical run.

“Being such a small team, I think we built our chemistry really well,” Ayers said.

Ocean View’s Joseph Standbridge, center, is double-teamed by Crean Lutheran’s Blasie Tomassian, right, and Robert Holmes during the first half.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

Crean Lutheran (22-6), which won its first CIF title in team history, appeared ready to run away with it early. The Saints jumped out to a 5-1 first-quarter lead. Five players — James Tate Fitzgerald, Nikolas Mohrman, Blaise Tomassian, Jonathan DiPinto and Robert Holmes — scored.

But then Ocean View (13-15) buckled down. The Seahawks didn’t allow a goal in the second quarter and pulled even midway through the third. Joseph Stanbridge’s goal off a foul tied the score at 6-6 with 4:11 remaining in the quarter.

Stanbridge, who had scored seven goals in an upset win at No. 2-seeded Menifee Heritage in the semifinals, added seven more goals in the final for Ocean View. He also had six steals.

“Offensively he’s carried us all season, but he also takes great matchups defensively,” said Ocean View coach Melissa Fernandez, in her 17th year in charge. “The other guys do a great job of knowing the value of all the other little things. They’re great passers, playing defense. It’s a great team effort.

“We kept battling back and not giving up. We got ourselves back in the game. Down the stretch, we couldn’t quite pull it off, but I’m so proud of these boys.”

Ocean View’s Kyle Ayers, right, shoots against Crean Lutheran during the second half of Saturday’s CIF title match.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

Crean Lutheran went on a 6-1 run to take a 12-7 advantage late in the fourth quarter. Saints senior goalkeeper Austin Griffin kept Ocean View at bay, making five of his seven saves in the final period.

“We just needed to make some adjustments in the third quarter to eliminate [Stanbridge], because he was their main goal scorer,” Tomassian said.

DiPinto, Tomassian and Tate Fitzgerald led Crean Lutheran with three goals each.

Baker and sophomore Charlie Feltz also scored for Ocean View, while Ayers led the Seahawks with three steals. Senior goalkeeper Wyatt Smith had three saves and three steals.

Ayers noted after the match that the Seahawks had made history by advancing to their first CIF title match.

“It’s honestly really crazy,” he said. “The beginning of the season was pretty rough, but I feel like we finished it real strong.”

Ocean View goalkeeper Wyatt Smith, top, defends the net against Crean Lutheran during the second half.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

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