Despite a slow start, the San Benito boys water polo team still
managed to deliver a 13-6 victory over host Gilroy Wednesday in
Tri-County Athletic League action behind a team-high five goals
from Josh Schafer.
GILROY
Despite a slow start, the San Benito boys water polo team still managed to deliver a 13-6 victory over host Gilroy Wednesday in Tri-County Athletic League action behind a team-high five goals from Josh Schafer.
“We just had a little bit of trouble getting going in the first quarter,” San Benito head coach Tom Agan said. His Balers, nevertheless, controlled leads of 2-1 after one period and 6-2 at halftime.
Schafer’s output nearly equaled that of Gilroy’s, which was limited to just a single goal during each of the first, second and fourth quarters.
Baler keeper Trevor Agan had 14 saves in the win.
San Benito was actually outscored by a 3-2 margin during the third period Wednesday, but the Balers closed out the final stanza on a 5-1 run.
Jake Garcia added three goals for San Benito, which improves to 6-1 in the TCAL, 12-6 overall. Tyler Reuther, Jaret Barios, Jordan Dain, Danny Jarrett and Pat Maguire each tacked on one goal apiece for the Balers.
San Benito will compete this weekend at the Carmel Invitational, where it is scheduled to take on Mitty at 8 a.m., Willow Glen at 10 a.m., and Live Oak at 12 p.m.
The match with Live Oak will be the third time this season the two teams have met up. On Sept. 15, the host Acorns easily defeated the Balers 18-4 in non-conference action, but San Benito returned the favor on Oct. 9 with an overtime win to claim the tournament championship at the South Valley Polo Fest in Morgan Hill.
The Balers had previously defeated both Mitty and Kingsburg to reach their flight championship.
Prior to their title match with Live Oak, though, the Balers approached their head coach with a friendly wager — a win over Live Oak, which had previously defeated them by 14 goals, and Agan would shave off his mustache.
Needless to say, Agan is currently without his mustache.
“It’s coming back slowly,” he said.
The surprising win and stronger play of late by the Balers has opened up another wager, though. If San Benito is able to claim the TCAL championship this season, Agan will shave a mohawk.
“It’s just hair,” he added.
San Benito will return to league play on Monday when they will host Carmel at 3:30 p.m.
TEAM 1 2 3 4 F
SANB 2 4 2 5 13
GILR 1 1 3 1 6
