Saratoga News

Sports

Saratoga boys, girls lose in polo playoffs

By Dick Sparrer

It had been a while since a Saratoga boys water polo team had reached the Central Coast Section quarterfinals--four years to be exact. But the Falcons got there this season, and they came within a couple of goals of advancing to the semi-final round.

Saratoga opened the CCS Division II playoffs with a solid 10-6 victory over Robert Louis Stevenson to move into the tourney quarter's. But the Falcons dropped a tough 11-9 decision to No. 3 seeded Soquel to fall out of the tourney.

The Saratoga girls also reached CCS Division II play, but lost their opener 8-3 to Live Oak. The Lady Falcons finished the season with a solid 13-9 record.

Saratoga's boys wrapped up a 16-13 campaign with a split in the CCS playoffs.

Senior Marko Pance poured in five goals and junior Myles Hornberger added three to lead the offensive assault for the Falcons. Junior Ryan Hinshaw also scored for Saratoga.

Senior goalie Max Hnojewyi blocked 11 enemy shots to lead the defensive effort for the Falcons.

Saratoga had opened the playoffs a few days earlier with the 10-6 win over Stevenson. Pance was again the Falcon leader with five goals and Hinshaw, Michael Byrne, Brad Rollinson, Zac Vidlock and Matt Murray also scored.

Hnojewyi shared time in the goal with junior Franklin Yao, and they finished with five saves apiece in the win.

The Saratoga girls, meanwhile, trailed Live Oak just 2-1 after a period, but the Acorns blanked the Falcons over the next two quarters to take a 6-1 lead, then matched Saratoga's two goals in the fourth to hang on for the win.

Hayes Hyde, Courtney Nolet and Alison Norris each scored goals in the game for the Falcons.