Water Polo Splashes into Semis

It took only a few minutes in the pool for the Palisades High boys water polo squad to settle the issue in the first round of the City Section playoffs last Wednesday at Maggie Gilbert Aquatic Center.

Feeling snubbed after being seeded second in the  tournament behind Birmingham, the reigning champions scored early and often against 15th-seeded Verdugo Hillson their way to a 16-3 victory.

Six different players — Lucas Silva, Eli Ackerman, Zach Senator, Mitchell Kim, Greg Vitous and Matt Affeld − each scored two goals as the Dolphins  led 9-0 by the end of the first quarter.

Four other players − Orson Spence, Kian Lotfi, Sammy Speiser and Will Schwerdtfeger − each added a goal and goalies Blake Levine and Ross Aronson made four saves apiece for the Dolphins.

Lotfi had three assists and a game-high seven steals, Senator had four assists, Nick Frey had three assists and Silva and Speiser each added two assists for the Dolphins, who led 11-1 at the half and 13-1 after three quarters.

“Our team captain talked to us about coming out  hard and building up our intensity because it’s not going to come out of nowhere,” Silva said. “Being the No. 2 seed is a little extra motivation.”

Coach Adam Blakis subbed throughout the second half, resting starters to let JV players called up to varsity gain playoff experience. He even let Senator, the team’s top scorer, play goalie in the fourth quarter and he made four saves.

Christian West scored twice for the Dons, runners-up to Chavez in the Valley Mission League.

It was more of the same when the Dolphins hosted seventh-seeded El Camino Real in the quarterfinals Monday.

The rematch between last season’s City finalists turned out to be a mismatch, as Palisades splashed past the Conquistadores 16-1.

El Camino Real returned only one starter from last year’s squad and it showed as Senator and Kim each scored three goals, Schwerdtfeger had two and Ackerman, Silva, Lotfi, Speiser, Isai Elias, Vitous, Frey and Affeld all added one.

“This is really good for us to prove we’re still No. 1,” Kim said. “We have confidence knowing we’ve won [City] before. This is exactly how we need to play.”

Palisades hosts a semifinal match today at 3 p.m. and if victorious will play for its third straight City title next Wednesday at 6 p.m. at East Valley High.