SLIDESHOW: EHS BOYS WATER POLO: Hornets split close matches

The Enumclaw High boys water polo team played two close games, both decided by goals during the last minute of play. One, a 10-9 nonleague win over Kentridge Oct. 12 went the Hornets’ way. The other, a 12-11 loss to Auburn Saturday, didn’t.

By Brenda Sexton • October 19, 2009 4:39 pm
Garrett Hall
Garrett Hall

The Enumclaw High boys water polo team played two close games, both decided by goals during the last minute of play. One, a 10-9 nonleague win over Kentridge Oct. 12 went the Hornets’ way. The other, a 12-11 loss to Auburn Saturday, didn’t.

The Hornets are scheduled to play four games during the week. Results of Tuesday’s match with Wilson were not available at press time. The team then faces Auburn Riverside today, Wednesday, Curtis Thursday and Rogers Saturday.

Against the Chargers, the last-second victory came on a 21-yard goal by Hornet goalkeeper Josh Musick. The contest was close throughout, with neither team holding better than a two-point lead.

The physical Kentridge team came out strong early, scoring two goals, while holding EHS scoreless. But the Hornet defense tightened, and goals by Garrett Hall and Bennon VanHoof tied the game at two. The two teams traded scores until Kentridge scored with five seconds remaining to take a 4-3 lead.

Enumclaw’s Travis Culp scored 16 seconds into the second quarter to tie the game at four. EHS and Kentridge traded goals again, until Kentridge took a 9-8 lead.

The Hornets scored on a power play with 47 seconds left. After stopping a Kentridge attempt, Hornet goalkeeper Musick scored from the length of the pool, for the victory.

Scoring for EHS were Logan Ross with three goals; Culp, Hall and VanHoof with two goals each; and Musick with the one. Musick also grabbed 13 saves and two steals, while Culp had five steals and VanHoof four. Hall also tallied three assists.

Saturday, the Hornets started quickly, scoring on a goal by Culp 40 seconds into the game, but Auburn came out strong and captured a 4-3 advantage and then outscored EHS in the second period for an 8-5 lead at the half. AHS led 10-7 after three.

Enumclaw came to life in the fourth quarter, starting with a VanHoof goal. Shane Jackson and Ross each scored midway through the quarter to tie the game at 10. VanHoof scored on a power play with 2:39 left in the game to give EHS an 11-10 edge.

But the Trojans were not done. They tied the game with 1:17 left and scored again with 40 seconds left.