By Nick Michael
Staff Writer
Photos by Stephanie Kim
The boys’ water polo team yet again strolled to an easy victory on Thursday, as the Tigers picked up an incredible 23-1 win at home against the Mark Keppel Aztecs.
“We came out strong today, and we were the aggressors the whole game,” junior Rob Decker said. “We are improving every day, but we still need to work on our turnovers.”
It didn’t take long at all for the Tigers to get on the scoreboard, as junior D.J. Myer scored the game’s first goal just 15 seconds in. Less than 30 seconds later, junior Spencer Gurley followed suit with another goal. The rest of the first quarter was much of the same, and by the end of it, the Tigers held a stunning 9-0 lead. In the second quarter, South Pasadena continued to pick apart the Aztec defense, scoring seven goals, three coming from junior Cameron Benitez. By halftime, the Tigers had already built a practically insurmountable 16-0 lead.
In the second half, South Pasadena played more conservatively, and focused mainly on protecting its lead. The lone Mark Keppel goal came in the third quarter, during a surprising burst of offense from the Aztecs that caught the Tigers off guard. However, the game ended as a pure and utter blowout, with a final score of 23-1.
The team has gotten off to a scorching 2-0 start in non-league play, outscoring its opponents 41-3 in those games. The team’s aggressive defense and strategic offense have both contributed to the incredible performances, and the boys look to keep up this level of play throughout the year.
The team’s next game is on Tuesday, September 8, at home against Burbank High School.
