SLIDESHOW: EHS WATER POLO: Hornets edge PHS, 10-9

A season-opening 10-2 loss to Auburn Riverside Sept. 15 and a 10-9 win over Peninsula Friday left the Enumclaw High boys water polo team with a 1-1 league record to start the season.

By Brenda Sexton • September 21, 2009 5:13 pm
Alex Stopsack defends against Auburn Riverside during the Hornets' home opener.
Alex Stopsack defends against Auburn Riverside during the Hornets' home opener.

A season-opening 10-2 loss to Auburn Riverside Sept. 15 and a 10-9 win over Peninsula Friday left the Enumclaw High boys water polo team with a 1-1 league record to start the season.

The Ravens took an early 4-0 lead in the home opener before freshman Bennon VanHoof got the Hornets on the board with a penalty shot with just under two minutes remaining in the first period. Riverside scored another five goals before senior Shane Jackson scored the Hornets’ second goal midway through the third quarter. The Ravens managed one more goal in the third period, and both teams went scoreless in the final quarter.

“Riverside has a lot of experience, and counter-attacked well in the first half,” coach Bob Averill said. “ Our kids did a great job of stepping up their defense, especially in the second half.”

“We’re real pleased with the kids’ effort,” coach Ken DeMan added. “They held Riverside to one goal in the second half, and completely stopped their half-court game.”

Junior goalkeeper Josh Musick gathered 13 saves, and Musick and Garret Hall tallied five steals each in the loss.

Friday in Purdy in a league game against Peninsula, sophomore Logan Ross scored early for EHS – 12 seconds into the game. Enumclaw and Peninsula traded goals through the first half and midway into the third period, when Jackson scored to put Enumclaw ahead 5-4. The Hornets scored three unanswered goals to close out the third quarter with an 8-4 advantage.

Peninsula fought back in the final period. The two teams traded goals in the first minute of the final period, then went scoreless until Peninsula scored with 2:53 left to narrow the Hornet lead to 9-6. On their next possession the Seahawks scored again, trailing 9-7.

But Enumclaw scored with 1:20 left for a 10-7 lead; Peninsula scored twice in the last minute, but the Hornets held on for the 10-9 victory.

“That was a fun game,” Averill said. “The guys had a great third quarter, and pulled ahead, but Peninsula made a run at the end; our kids played smart, and held on for the win.”

VanHoof scored three goals in the win, while veterans Jackson and Hall scored two each. Also scoring for the Hornets were Ross, Travis Culp and Zach Petersen.

The Hornets were scheduled to host state runner-up Wilson Tuesday, results were too late for this edition. Friday the team travels to Auburn for a two-day, five-game tournament at Auburn.