SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Water Polo

Mariners end losing streak, start winning streak

By Phillip Brents

Posted Oct. 8, 2002

Mar Vista High’s water polo team might have had reason to be discouraged following lopsided non-league losses to Valley Center (18-2), Oceanside (17-9) and West Hills (30-7), but all things considered, everything that goes around eventually comes around. The Mariners found that perseverance is the best medicine following a 15-6 non-league victory Oct. 4 against Steele Canyon in El Cajon to break a four-game losing streak during which the team had been outscored 77-25.

Sophomore Julian Czerwiec had three goals (two goals in the first period and one in the third) and two steals while older brother Joe Czerwiec, a senior, contributed three goals and one steal. Junior Noah Stamm three goals while seniors Josh Madigan had two goals and four steals and senior Shawn Johnson had two goals and three steals. Sophomores Scott Knox and Max Craig both added single goals.
Senior Andrew Allen and three steals while junior goalie Eric Grieble had 13 saves, gave up five goals and had several steals.

Junior Carlos Espinoza had two steals while senior John Thero and junior Eric Cornwall both had one steal.

“The boys had the game into control with their outside shooting as Steele Canyon runs a sluf defense on our hole. We had a lot of goals from the outside. We also threw a lot of them over the cage and right into the arms of the goalie or a defender. I'm proud of the guys,” said Mariners coach Chip Case.

Mar Vista matched its longest winning streak of the season -- at two games -- by defeating Chula Vista, 21-13, in a Metro Conference game Oct. 8 at the Parkway Pool. Julian Czerwiec, who is looking to be some kind of polo player by the time he is a senior, led the Mariners offensively with seven goals while older brother Joe Czerwiec tallied six goals and three assists. Stamm, exhibiting deadly corner shooting, chipped in with three goals and one assist (with all three goals coming in the final period) while Madigan contributed two goals and two assists and Johnson added two goals and one assist. Rounding out the MV scoring column were Andrew Allen (one goal), Carlos Espinoza (two assists) and Scott Knox (one assist). Goalie Eric Griebel had seven saves.

The Mariners led from the onset, on Joe Czerwiec's jump-goal just seconds into the game but the Spartans (0-3) showed how much they had improved since opening the season with 19-3 and 10-7 non-league losses to Mt. Miguel and Morse, respectively, but matching the visitors' first two goals. Junior Bryan Flitcraft tied the game at 1-1 and, following a goal by Mar Vista's Julian Czerwiec, sophomore Luis Sandoval evened the contest at 2-2. However, the Mariners quickly regained the momentum by reeling off five unanswered goals to lead 7-2 and ended the first stanza up 7-3. Julian Czerwiec scored on a court-length goalie outlet pass to open the second period and Mar Vista steadily increased its lead to seven-, eight- and then nine-goal margins on several occasions before senior Gregorio Flores capped the matchup with a power play goal for Chula Vista.

Despite the loss, Spartan coach Joel Lopez seemed pleased with the progress made by his team since opening its season two weeks ago. "We don't look like the same team that played in that first game," he said.

Flitcraft, a flat and weak wing, displayed a gunner's arm from the outside, releasing some punishing shots into the back of the cage. He led Chula Vista with five goals and two assists. Flores, the team's two-meter set, contributed four goals while Sandoval, a wing and two-meter guard, had four goals and three assists in another standout performance. First-year senior goalie Chris Suber seemed to gain more confidence as the game went on, finishing with a game-high nine saves.