CV tops Hoover, 20-2.

Hamlet Nalbandyan

HOOVER HIGH -- The Crescenta Valley High girls’ water polo team

practiced during the two-week holiday break and Hoover High didn’t.

That was the difference as a better-conditioned CV team punished

Hoover, 20-2, in the Pacific League openers for the teams at Hoover High.

The Falcons (5-3) were a faster team to begin with, but with the added

practice time and Hoover’s inactivity, the game proved to be a mismatch.

Hoover (2-5) committed 31 turnovers and had just five shots on goal.

CV, on the other hand, had 41 shots on goal and had nine different

players score goals.

“We didn’t practice during the winter break because the pool was not

available, but that’s no excuse. We need to work on our conditioning,”

said Hoover Coach Gene Kranz Wednesday.

“CV is very fundamentally sound and they are great swimmers. They work

well as a team as well.”

The Falcons had the same problem as Hoover did with their pool. With

the CV pool being out of commission, Peter Kim’s squad used the pool at

La Canada High.

“During the last two weeks, we put a lot of time into our offense and

defense, and it showed today,” Kim said.

“We borrowed La Canada’s pool and we practiced four days a week. I was

very pleased with the turnout. The girls are young, but they’re focused

and they want to improve. We’re beginning to see the results.”

The score would have been even more lopsided if not for the play of

Hoover goalie Sally Belderian.

The senior faced 38 shots and stopped 21. CV had numerous fast-break

chances, but came away empty-handed on some because of Belderian.

“Sally faced a barrage of shots and did a great job. I’m very proud of

her. She kept her spirits up, even though she had to go up against many

fast breaks,” said Kranz.

“Our goal in the second half was to get back on defense quickly,

because CV has great swimmers and we wanted to take away the fast break.”

For CV, Megan Winchell took advantage of Hoover’s sloppy defense in

the first half. The sophomore scored five of her match-high seven goals

in the first half.

“Megan played a great game, but at the same time, it was a total team

effort. She scored some great goals on one on one plays, but the other

goals she scored were created by her teammates,” said Kim.

Another Falcon that had a big day was Deborah Snyder, who scored six

goals.

The Tornadoes were outshot, 26-2, in the first half, and didn’t get

their first shot on goal until 2:45 of the second quarter.

Hoover didn’t get on the scoreboard until the fourth quarter, when

Hanriete Akoopians got a nice pass from Maral Ziafathy and beat CV’s Amy

Brunton with 5:53 left, making the score 16-1.

With about two minutes left, Kranz elected to pull Belderian out of

goal and put her in as a regular player.

CV scored three quick goals with Belderian out, but Belderian made her

presence felt as she rifled a shot past Brunton at the buzzer from long

distance.