After suffering two regular-season losses to Wilson and splitting the season draws with Auburn, the Enumclaw High boys water polo team found redemption Saturday after they beat both teams to finish third at the state championships at Rogers High in Puyallup.
In the first match Saturday, Bennon VanHoof and Garrett Hall gave the Hornets a quick, but narrow, 2-1 lead over Wilson at the half.
Thomas Petersen and Travis Culp added goals for Enumclaw and Hall scored on a penalty shot to give Enumclaw a 5-1 advantage after three quarters. VanHoof added another Hornet goal early in the final period, and Wilson added three scores late in the game, for the final 6-4 score.
Musick grabbed 20 saves in the win.
Enumclaw split wins with the Trojans during the regular season, with both teams winning by just one goal. Their final game Saturday wasn’t close. Once again Hall and VanHoof led Enumclaw had a convincing 7-3 win over the Trojans for the third-place trophy. Hall scored four goals, VanHoof added two and Logan Ross added another.
Musick had 22 saves.
“The guys responded well to a tough opening round loss, and finished the tournament with their best games of the season,” said Bob Averill, who along with Ken DeMan led the Hornet crew. “They showed some great stuff.”
The Hornets’ lone loss of the tournament came in Thursday’s opener at the hands of eventual state champion Curtis, which won a 9-7 game over Rogers for the title. The Hornets stayed even with Curtis through the first quarter after goals by Thomas Petersen and Hall, but the Viking defense shut down the Hornet offense in the second half and Curtis won 9-2.
Enumclaw rebounded from its opening round loss to beat Puyallup 14-3 Friday.
Hall opened the scoring for EHS. Thomas Petersen added another with the clock winding down in the first period.
The Hornets stretched their lead in the second quarter, scoring six goals, four by Hall. In the third quarter, it was Travis Culp’s turn, drilling in three, while Ross added one. The Hornets offense held a commanding 12-3 advantage at the end of three quarters. The EHS defense held the Vikings scoreless in the final period, while Will Cooper and Will Skelley each added a goal for the Hornets. The Hornet defense racked up 17 steals; goalkeeper Musick grabbed 19 saves.
