Sequoia polo rolls past Burlingame

“Our goal is to win the whole thing,” said Sequoia’s sophomore attacker AJ McDonald.

Led by McDonald and senior hole set Derek Hymer, who both scored six goals apiece, the Ravens stayed unbeaten on the young Bay Division season, handing formerly undefeated Burlingame its first division loss of the season, 15-7 Tuesday evening at Burlingame Aquatic Center.

“Dominant,” is how Sequoia head coach Eric Bittner described his team’s performance. “I’m happy we’re doing the things we’re working on in practice.”

While the final score indicates a strong showing from Sequoia (2-0 PAL Bay), Burlingame (2-1), the reigning Ocean Division champion itself, countered two early goals with three unanswered of their own to take a 3-2 lead with 3:15 left in the opening period.

McDonald got the scoring started for Sequoia less than 30 seconds into the match when he came up with a steal at midpool and scored on a breakaway. Less than two minutes in, it was 2-0 after Hymer put back a rebound of his own shot that was initially blocked.

Burlingame struggled to get its offense going early as the Panthers didn’t manage a shot in the first three-plus minutes of the first period. But Oliver Canniffe, a freshman, converted an Adrian Gong assist into the Panthers first point at the 4:33 mark and the match was tied less than a minute later when Canniffe scored off the left wing following a Burlingame foul.

Burlingame then took its only lead of the match when the Panthers had a 3-on-2 fast break, with Lucas Carlson putting away a Gong pass.

“I know a lot of their players from club,” McDonald said. “[Burlingame is] pretty solid.”

But back-to-back goals from Hymer, including a penalty-shot goal, gave the Ravens a 4-3 advantage at the break, one they would not relinquish.

“I think we just settled down,” Bittner said. “Once we settled down, we played very well.”

That was evident in the second period as the Ravens were humming — offensively and defensively. They scored the first six goals of the quarter on their first six shots. Hymer drew another penalty shot to open the second, with McDonald converting for a 5-3 lead. Hymer added two more goals in the period, McDonald added another goal and an assist, while Alexi Bonnett and Matteo Chocano rounded out the scoring to lead 10-3 with 3:47 left in the first half.

But more important, as far as Bittner was concerned, was Sequoia’s defense, which led to the Raven’s offense. Sequoia had six of its 13 steals in the second quarter, alone. McDonald and senior Drew Ostrander led the way with three thefts apiece.

“What I loved was the steals,” Bittner said. “Created opportunities for the counter.”

Burlingame, however, kept its hopes alive with back-to-back goals from Gong and Alex Bozinovic to keep the Panthers within shouting distance, down 10-5 at the break.

The match slowed down in the second half. Sequoia scored five times over the final two quarters, but the Ravens’ defense all but suffocated the Panthers’ offense, allowing just two goals.

McDonald punctuated the win with a slick backhand score from the hole set early in the fourth period. He took an entry pass from Ostrander, who finished with a team-high three assists. McDonald, with his back to the goal and a defender in front and behind, managed to hold off the defensive double team and with his right hand and arm whipped a backhanded shot into the net with authority.

It was just the second time McDonald moved into the set during the game. Was he looking for the highlight-reel goal?

“No. I was just looking to score,” McDonald said.

The Ravens will need to continue this type of play is they want to contend for the Bay Division title. They’ll find out real quick where they stand. After a match with Aragon Thursday, Sequoia will play top contenders Menlo-Atherton and Woodside in back-to-back matches next week, Monday and Wednesday, respectively.

“If we can get one of those wins in the first round, I think we have a chance to take it,” Bittner said. “I think we have a shot to win [the Bay title].

“I know it’s a bold statement.”