Oh So Close!

Eagle Rock Stymies Palisades Comeback in City Water Polo Final

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Just when it seemed all hope was fading, the Palisades High girls water polo team rose to the challenge last Thursday night at Valley College. The Dolphins rallied for four goals in a three-minute span of the fourth quarter to draw even with Eagle Rock, but the defending champions regained the lead on a goal by Kim Vo with 2:06 left and hung on to win 9-8 and deny Palisades its first City Section title.

Palisades had possession with 32 seconds remaining and called timeout to draw up a play. Top scorer Leighanne Estabrook broke free to the right of the net, but the Eagles’ defense swarmed quickly and goalie Megan Acosta knocked the ball away before Estabrook could get off a shot. The final 16 seconds ticked down and Eagle Rock celebrated its sixth section crown in seven years, improving to 106-1 against City opponents since its dynasty began in 2011.      

“We were going to try to push the ball to me or Sydney [Brouwer] if one of us got open,” said Estabrook, who scored five goals. “I got the ball and tried drawing a foul but the refs weren’t having it.”   

Estabrook scored twice in the first four minutes to give Palisades an early lead, but the second-seeded Eagles were unfazed and answered with six of their own before senior captain Elena Saab tipped the ball past Acosta to pull the Dolphins within 6-3 late in the first half.

“When we went ahead 2-0 we had this idea it would be an easier game and everyone let up,” Estabrook said. “They cherry-picked after that and we weren’t helping each other like we should.”

Estabrook converted on a six-on-five opportunity to make it 6-4 early in the third quarter, but Eagle Rock answered with two of its own—one on a five-meter attempt—to take an 8-4 lead less than a minute into the fourth quarter and the situation looked bleak for the Dolphins.    

“We were saying it’s the end, run our plays and drive but they were physical and good at hiding their fouls,” Saab said. “I’m still very proud of us. They shut down the last play but even though we couldn’t quite do it, we brought it back from four points when we were behind. That’s what I’ll remember most—that and the close bond this team has. It’s something very special.”

Seeded No. 1 for the second straight season, the Dolphins thought they would begin the game at an advantage after Eagle Rock arrived late and was allowed only 15 minutes to warm up. However, a cruel twist of fate awaited Palisades, as the lights above the pool at Valley College went out moments before the game was supposed to begin, causing another half-hour delay.

“Everything was scheduled from the time we left school, to when we ate, to when we got in the water,” Coach Kirk Lazaruk said. “I’m not taking anything away from Eagle Rock, but we had to warm up three times and that can have an effect on you. I’d like to play them again.”

Estabrook received a pass from Maxine Eschger and rattled a shot off the post and in to spark the Dolphins’ comeback with 5:03 left. She fought off a double-team to loft a shot under the crossbar 25 seconds later and Brouwer scored twice in a span of 16 seconds—the second off a laser-like outlet pass from goalie Chloe Berrisford—to tie it 8-8 with 2:56 remaining. The Dolphins had momentum, but they couldn’t get the go-ahead goal.

“If I’m looking for one word to describe our season it would be journey,” Lazaruk said. “From our first game against Culver City to the Burbank Tournament to the incredible semifinal against Granada Hills, it’s been a year of growth, a change in the culture of our program. The standard has been raised.”

The loudest fans in the Dolphins’ cheering section were members of the Pali High boys team, who presented the girls with flowers in the post-game medal ceremony. The boys won their sixth straight City title in the fall under coach Adam Blakis, who advised Lazaruk on how to handle being left in the dark.

Thursday’s one-goal margin made it the closest Palisades has come in five finals losses to Eagle Rock, which beat the Dolphins 8-1 in the same pool last February.

“What makes this team different is that in previous years we’ve had one dominant player, first Mardell Ramirez and then Jackie Au,” Lazaruk said. “Now we’re a more complete team and don’t have to rely as much on one person.”

Palisades earned a berth in the inaugural CIF SoCal Division II playoffs and travels to Corona del Mar in the first round Friday night.