By Nick Michael
Assoc. News Editor
The varsity boys’ water polo team saw its season come to an end on Wednesday, November 11, as the boys lost at home to the Aliso Niguel Wolverines in CIF Round 1 playoffs, 13-6.
The two teams were even at the start of the match. Both sides played well defensively, and by the end of the first quarter, the score was 2-2. However, the rest of the game belonged to the Wolverines. Aliso’s offense came to life in the second quarter, as they scored five straight goals. By halftime, they had built an 8-3 lead. The Tigers were never able to fully recover from the brutal second period. The second half was similar to the first, with Aliso continuing to stymy the Tiger offense. As the final buzzer sounded, the scoreboard read 13-6, marking the end of the Tigers’ season.
Despite the loss, the team’s season as a whole was impressive. Last year, the Tigers went 3-5 in league, and finished in fourth place. This season, the boys secured the Rio Hondo League title for the first time in six years. They won their first six league games, including a sweep of defending champion La Cañada, en route to a 6-2 league record. This turnaround was the result of hard work in the offseason, and improved team chemistry.
“This season, we were able to achieve our goals by improving communication and intensity while enjoying the game,” junior Kinan Garcia-Rodriguez said. “Winning league was a great achievement and we are already looking forward to the 2016 season.”
While this season was a massive improvement from last year, the possibilities for next year are even more exciting. The current squad contains no seniors, so the team won’t be losing any players and can only get better for the coming season. With this in mind, the team will certainly be a force to be reckoned with next year, as the Tigers hope to defend