Top Seeds in Golden West, West Valley Face Off in 3C2A Men’s Water Polo Championship Bout
Both region's top seeds prevailed in the semifinal round of the 2023 3C2A State Championships today as the south's Golden West College Rustlers and the north's West Valley College Vikings will duke it out for the state title.
CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY SCHEDULE - NOVEMBER 18
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
| (1N) West Valley (31-3) | vs | (1S) Golden West (30-3) | 11:15 AM |
THIRD PLACE GAME
| (2S) Long Beach (16-17) | vs | (3N) Cuesta (22-13) | 9:30 AM |
The Rustlers and the WVC Vikings have yet to square off this season which sets the stage for an exciting contest. The two teams met in last year's state championship game as the Rustlers clipped the Vikings, 9-7, in overtime after losing to them in their previous meeting last season.
Golden West is on the hunt for their seventh-consecutive title and 30th overall title in program history. They took one step closer after defeating Cuesta, 13-11.
Golden West jumped out to an early lead by scoring four goals to the Cougar's two scores. Tommy Kelly netted the opening two scores, while Alec Johnson and Itay Roth chipped in netters.
The Rustlers were limited to one score in the second quarter, but a five-goal third kept them in the drivers seat. However, Cuesta matched each score as they were only down 10-9 with one frame remaining.
Golden West was able to outlast a pesky Cuesta offense by outscoring them, 3-2, in the final period leading to the win. Tomas De Luca hammered home the first score in the final period, while Emiliano Tovar fired home the final two netters.
West Valley advances to their second-straight championship game after defeating Long Beach, 16-11, in the semifinal round.
It was a back and forth affair in the first period, but West Valley established its offensive prowess in the second half by scoring five goals to the Vikings' two.
After Long Beach's Colley Ochoa kick started the scoring in the second period, West Valley went on to score three-consecutive goals. Ethan MacLeod scored two of the netters, while Berkecan Yalcin contributed the third score. Phil Portisch and Morgan Barnes chipped in the third and fourth goals of the period, respectively.
West Valley outscored Long Beach, 8-7, in the ladder half of the contest leading to the victory. Yalcin led with five goals, while Portisch followed with four goals.
(Nicho DellaValle, 3CWPCA)