The Citrus College men’s water polo team started their season with a win and a loss at a two-day home tournament, the Citrus Invitational.
The Owls started the tournament with a poor offensive performance in their first game of the day, losing to the Grossmont College Griffins 17-10.
Head coach Erick Gonzalez said he was disappointed with the defensive performance in the game against Grossmont. He said his team allowed “open looks” and committed “too many penalties.”
Western States Conferance referees changed the way they call the game this season and Gonzalez believes that was a factor in their lackluster performance to start the day.
“I think the guys were a little bit caught off guard at how easily they were calling ejections,” Gonzalez said. “They are literally calling every hold and water polo players especially are just not used to that.”
The Owls trailed Grossmont most of the first game. Citrus couldn’t handle the Griffins’ offensive pressure. The home team failed to gain the lead in their first game loss.
Citrus bounced back with an overwhelming offensive performance in their second game against the San Diego Miramar Jets. Citrus won 22-8.
Led by driver Anthony Alacorn and attacker Jordan Scott, the Owls. started strong.
Both players scored in the beginning of the second period to give the Owls an 8-3 lead they did not surrender.
Not only did the Owls achieve more on offense in the second game, but their defensive performance improved as well.
“They were a little less aggressive in the second game and they were able to not get ejected so many times while playing defense,” Gonzales said. “That was the biggest improvement that I saw.”
Domink Powell scored a no-look, behind-the-back shot from center to go up 12-6 at halftime.
The third quarter began with back and forth scores from the Owls and Jets. The quarter would ended 16-7 in favor of the Owls.
In the beginning of the last quarter, the Owls took a blazing start, scoring 3 goals in less that a minute. The team added to their already double-digit lead.
The Owls held Grossmont to just two goals in the entire second half despite new obstacles.
“I think the guys did a little bit of a better job of adjusting to the new rules and the way they are calling the game in that second game,” Gonzalez said.
Even though the Owls knew the rules, coach Gonzalez said the team can reduce the number of ejections they surrender if they continue practicing.
“We’ve been working on driver defense and protecting the drives, but it’s not until you get into a game ’til you see what it actually looks like,” Gonzalez said. “So, even though we’ve done it everyday, we definitely need to keep working on it.”
At the end of the first day the Citrus squad turned on their own jets, finishing with a 1-1 record and a positive seven-point differential.
On the second and final day of the Citrus Invitational, the Owls face Fullerton and Chaffey College at 9 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. respectively.
