Maciel nets seven to lead Mustangs to first win over Carmel in
three seasons
GILROY – Coach Tom Clark knew it was going to happen sooner or later. He just didn’t know when. He had been grooming his young water polo players over the years – taking his lumps last season by playing a team of mostly freshmen and sophomores.
Well this year those same players are sophomores and juniors, and they are not waiting until they become seniors to turn heads in the Gilroy High pool. The Mustangs pulled off a feat not done by a Gilroy boys polo team in three seasons. They welcomed visiting Carmel with an 18-goal explosion for a dominant 18-8 victory.
“We just came together. Everything fell into place. We didn’t know what to expect from the other team,” said junior forward Santiago Maciel, a CCS swimmer and Gilroy Gator. “It was getting pretty physical because we haven’t beaten them in (three) years so it was a big loss for them.”
And a big win for Gilroy – which will host Monterey on Monday in a make-up game at 3:30 p.m.
“It’s about time we turned it around,” said Clark before heading in to address his players. “Basically, they’re not selfish. They look for the open man… We still have more tough games in league.”
After Monterey on Monday, the Mustangs will complete their home set against Live Oak on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
“We played good,” said Ryan Boe, who found the back of the net in the fourth quarter. “We did some stupid stuff and we did some good stuff.
Junior forwards Santiago Maciel (seven) and Lee Walton (five) combined for 12 goals to lead the Gilroy attack. Both Jake Klaver and Scott Dickson tallied two goals and one assist, while teammate Scott Castruita added one goal and two assists. In addition, forward Chris Hunt netted one goal and goalkeeper Nick Van Winkle registered two assists.
“They’re bigger,” said Clark of his now seasoned players. “Our goal is to play a real strong defense.”
But it was the Mustang offense that Carmel could not match. Gilroy jumped out to a 4-1 lead at the end of the first quarter. After Hunt pushed home a shot from Maciel, Klaver benefited from a long pass via Van Winkle and then Maciel shoved in a lob from Walton. Carmel answered with one, but Klaver scored his second of the opening quarter with a lob to the corner.
Following two straight Maciel goals to begin the second quarter, two Carmel goals were answered by two consecutive Walton strikes. Carmel scored the final goal of the half to cut Gilroy’s lead to 8-4.
In the second half, the Mustang shooters came out firing with six straight goals to give themselves a commanding 10-point spread. Carmel scored in the final minute to make it a 14-5 ball-game going into the final quarter.
Carmel then hit three goals in a row before Dickson stopped the streak with a blast into the side of the net. After a final Carmel goal, Maciel finished the visitors off with two more goals.
