In a decisive quarterfinal match, the Mater Dei boys water polo team defeated Sage Hill 11-8, securing their spot in the CIF-SS semifinals. The game, held on Thursday at Sage Hill in Newport Coast, showcased the Monarchs’ determination as they established a strong lead early on, going up by four goals in the first quarter.
With this victory, third-seeded Mater Dei (15-13) advances to face No. 2 Harvard-Westlake (12-15) in the semifinals scheduled for March 2024. This marks the Monarchs’ first appearance in the section’s No. 2-ranked playoff division since 2009, while Harvard-Westlake is making its first semifinal appearance since 1991.
Key Performers Drive Mater Dei to Victory
Defender Noah Jurgensen was instrumental in the win, scoring four of his five goals in the first half to build momentum for the Monarchs. Junior Ace Chen also made a significant impact by netting three goals in the first period, contributing to a halftime lead of 8-4.
“We’re bringing just as much effort as we would have brought if we were in the Open Division,” Chen stated. “Even though we’re in D1, none of us are down about it. We’re all still excited to go try to win that Division 1 championship.”
First-year head coach Erik Zimmerman echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the team’s commitment to hard work. “We just continue to grind and work hard,” he said, highlighting the team’s focus on their goal of achieving an eighth section title.
Sage Hill’s Journey and Challenges
Despite the loss, Sage Hill (21-6) made history by reaching the Division 1 quarterfinals for the first time. They had previously secured their first Division 1 victory in program history by defeating Yucaipa 14-12 in the first round.
Mater Dei’s defense was effective in limiting Sage Hill’s high-scoring left-hander Luke Weichert to just one goal, significantly impacting the Lightning’s performance. Jurgensen noted the team’s defensive strategy, saying, “We pressed him as much as we could and avoided foul trouble. We put a hand up whenever he had the ball.”
Junior goalie Morgan Crichton played a pivotal role in securing the win for Mater Dei, making six of his nine saves during the second half. Sage Hill’s efforts included contributions from sophomores Bobby Ray and Aaden Hoang, who combined for five goals, while sophomore goalie Noah Rothbard recorded nine saves.
Sage Hill coach Pavle Filipovic expressed pride in the team’s accomplishments, stating, “It’s huge reaching the Division 1 quarterfinals. I’m very proud of the team. We’ve been trying to build slowly.”
The road ahead for Mater Dei now leads them to face the top-seeded Loyola team, who will host No. 4 Dos Pueblos in the other semifinal. As the playoffs progress, the excitement builds around the potential for further thrilling encounters.
