Saratoga News
Sports
Falcons fall to Mitty 7-6 in finals of Rosenbrock Memorial tourney
By Dick Sparrer
Marko Pance is not a one-man team for the Saratoga High School water polo squad this fall. Goalie Max Hnojewyi and field players Ryan Hinshaw, Ben Hinshaw, Myles Hornberger, Brad Rollinson and Michael Byrne are all top contributors for the Falcons.
Still, it's difficult to ignore the contributions Pance made for Saratoga last week.
The talented Saratoga senior poured in 21 goals in five games as the Falcons knocked off league powerhouse Gunn, then finished second in the rugged Michael Rosenbrock Memorial tournament at Lynbrook.
Pance pitched in four goals to lead the Falcons to a 10-9 win over Gunn in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League, then scored 17 goals in four games at the Rosenbrock.
Pance starred in the win over Titans. Byrne, Hornberger and Rollinson added two goals each as the Falcons nailed an upset win over Gunn to even their league record at 1-1.
Saratoga backed up that win with three straight victories in the Rosenbrock before dropping a 7-6 heartbreaker to Archbishop Mitty in the tournament finals.
Pance tossed in three goals in the title game and Hnojewyi blocked a penalty shot, but the Falcons lost by one to the Monarchs.
Saratoga trailed 1-0 after a period in the finals, but outscored Mitty 5-2 in the second period to lead 5-3 at the half. Mitty tied it in the third, then topped Saratoga 2-1 in the fourth to claim the tight 7-6 win.
Rollinson had two goals and R. Hinshaw also scored for the Falcons.
Saratoga had knocked off Los Gatos 8-6 in the semifinals. Pance led the way with five goals and Byrne, R. Hinshaw and Hornberger had one each.
Pance popped five goals and R. Hinshaw had three in a 10-6 win over West Tracy. B. Hinshaw and Byrne also scored in the win.
Pance scored four goals and Hornberger had three in a 12-7 win over Santa Cruz. R. Hinshaw tossed in two goals and Byrne, B. Hinshaw and Matt Murray had a goal each.
The Falcons led 8-0 at the half against Santa Cruz and cruised from there to the win.
Pance finished the tournament with the 17 goals and also had 16 steals.
