Sacred Heart Prep boys’ water polo back to the big dance

This year is something of a right of passage for an untested group of Gators though. SHP graduated five starters from last year’s CCS Open championship squad. So, did anyone really know what to expect come face-off time in Wednesday’s semifinals?

“Obviously we know Los Gatos is a good team; it wasn’t a surefire thing,” SHP junior Oliver Marcin said. “But we’re ready for this championship. We know we can do it. I have confidence on every single person on this team. So, we’re looking forward to Saturday, and we think we can win it.”

Marcin has good reason to have faith in every single person. The junior hole set showed off the versatile depth of SHP’s offense in the second quarter against Los Gatos (25-3). After falling behind early in the quarter on a goal by Los Gatos sophomore Mathijs Dirven, the Gators finished the half with seven unanswered goals, coming from four different players.

“We have a lot of guys who stepped up, we have a lot of first-time starters,” Marcin said. “But everyone has kind of filled their role, and I think we’re gelling together at the perfect time.”

SHP sophomore Clay Carrington scored two goals on the night, including the go-ahead shot in the second quarter to give his team a 4-3 lead. The southpaw faked low and shot high, burying the ball in the corner of the net.

“Our game plan was just fake a lot, shoot high, and over his head was pretty open so I just shot there and it fell,” Carrington said.

It has been an uphill climb for Carrington most of the season, who only gained regular playing time in recent weeks. It was a clutch goal in the closing seconds of regulation to force overtime against Bishop’s High School-La Jolla in the South Coast Tournament that put him on the map.

The Gators ultimately lost that game in OT but, from there, the Gators began to glimpse the greatness with which their water polo program has long been synonymous.

“That game was no good,” Marcin said. “But it’s OK because we went over to the Elite 8 tournament two weeks later and we beat Oaks Christian to go to the semis. We got some games against the best teams in the country. ... So, we’ve had some high-level games against the best teams in the country, and we’re ready for this game on Saturday.”

Carrington and Marcin are new to the starting lineup this season, along with senior Andrew Spencer, and juniors Nelson Harris and Luke Kirincich. And most of them got on the scorecard Wednesday.

“We have six good shooters, in my opinion,” Carrington said. “So, any option is a good option.”

Kirincich scored a hat trick, and scored the second-quarter equalizer to make it 3-3. After Carrington gave the Gators the lead, Tyler Hogan, Marcin and Kirincich finished with two scores apiece in the quarter.

“I think it was just committing to the defensive end,” Marcin said. “Everyone’s active, everyone’s getting off in the lanes, hitting and recovering. We’re hitting low, we’re pushing the drivers outside of the post. And then we’re going on the counter. Everyone’s moving the ball, no one’s being selfish, and I think the defense just leads to that ball movement and that’s what leads us to getting goals.”

Marcin had some big shoes to fill this season, taking over at hole set for Hassen Hove, who now plays at Claremont-McKenna. Fortunately, Marcin and his size 18 feet can fill just about any shoes ever invented.

SHP returned two starters in Hogan and sophomore goalkeeper Murdoch Baker-Matsuoka.

Saturday, the Gators travel to Hollister High School to take on No. 1 Bellarmine in the CCS Open finals. Face-off is scheduled for 4:05 p.m.