Saratoga News

Sports

Pance leads Falcons into league polo season

By Dick Sparrer

Marko Pance had quite a summer. The Saratoga water polo star was one of just two high school players selected to play for the Pacific Zone National Team in the prestigious Water Polo Division 1 Premier League tournament this past year.

So the summer between Pance's junior and senior years at Saratoga was special indeed as jumped into the water with many of the nation's finest polo players. Now he's hoping to make a big splash locally this fall as he returns to the Saratoga waters to lead the Falcons into the 2006 season in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.

Pance was able to pitch in a couple of goals, but it was a rather uneventful start for the Falcons in league play. Saratoga opened with a 10-5 loss to league powerhouse Los Altos.

The Eagles went up 2-0 with a couple of first-quarter goals, but Saratoga outscored Los Altos to take a 4-3 lead at intermission. Los Altos tied it 5-5 by the end of the third period, but then swamped Saratoga 5-0 in the final quarter to pull out the win.

Pance led the Falcons with his two goals and Zac Vidlock, Brad Rollinson and Brad Murray also scored.

The Falcons took part in the John Schmitt Memorial Tournament, beating Palisades 5-2, but losing to Serra 10-5, Cupertino 8-7 and Foothill of Pleasanton 5-2.

Pance pumped in five goals in the loss to the Pioneers. Vidlock and Murray also scored for Saratoga.

Pance had two goals and Ryan Hinshaw, Myles Hornberger and Rollinson added one each in the loss to the Padres.