The Aliso Niguel boys water polo team played their final game in the second round of CIF playoffs against Long Beach Poly High School on Oct. 31.
The game was heated for both teams throughout the entire game. As each quarter passed, the score on the scoreboard rose on both sides creating tension for the ball at play. In the last two minutes of the game, Aliso put four goals in the net and raised the score to 11-12, now down by one.
Aliso was not able to score one more goal to tie the game, ending with Long Beach Poly winning by one.
Gavin Gabal (11) states, “We were all very excited to get farther in CIF than any one of us had gone before. It was disappointing for us when we ended up losing, but it was really nostalgic and sentimental to say goodbye to the team and a great season.”
The first team Aliso went up against in the first round of CIF playoffs was against Temecula Valley High School.
The game was close for both sides, yet Aliso prevailed in the end taking home the win of 14-12.
Having won one of the six games played, the team placed fourth overall in the Sea View League.
The teams Aliso played against in league were Beckman High School, Capistrano Valley High School, San Clemente High School, and San Juan Hills High School.
Aliso played Beckman High School twice. On Oct. 22, Aliso took on Beckman. The game was tense for both sides, yet Aliso triumphed leaving the pool with a 7-4 win. Aliso took on Beckman once more on Oct. 22, this time at home. The game was rough for the boys and it ended with a loss, 6-11.
On Oct. 10, Aliso played Capistrano Valley High School. In the past non-league game against Capistrano Valley, Aliso had won by a few goals. This time, the boys were unable to defeat Capo Valley and the game ended in a loss of 6-10.
Aliso played San Clemente High School on Oct. 15. The game ended in a loss for Aliso as the opposing team nearly doubled the score and left with a 6-12 win.
The team played San Juan Hills one last time on Oct. 17. This game as well was rough for Aliso and also ended in a loss. The final score of the game was 5-10.
Captain Gabe Widarto (12) states, “It was a good season. I had fun each game and I am sad to say the season is over.”
Overall, the boys played 39 games this season and won 18 of them. The team is ranked 85th in California and ranked 110 for NAT.
