SHP Boys Water Polo takes home prestigious Tournament Championship

Larsen Weigle scored six goals and Griffen Price made nine saves as Sacred Heart Prep won the championship of the S&R Sports Invitational boys water polo tournament on Saturday at Irvine High with a 12-7 victory over Huntington Beach.

The Gators (14-1) beat Foothill, 13-12, in the semifinals as Xavier Marco broke an 11-11 tie with 2:26 remaining to play. 

Sacred Heart Prep hosts St. Francis in its West Catholic Athletic League regular-season finale at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. The Gators have clinched the title and have a bye in the final week of the league season. WCAL playoffs begin Oct. 22.

Following a semifinal that featured three lead changes and eight ties, Sacred Heart Prep never gave Huntington Beach a chance in the final.

Weigle, Walker Seymour and Will Riley combined to help the Gators open a 6-1 lead early in the third quarter.

The Oilers managed to draw within 7-5 with 3:13 left in the third but Riley scored consecutive goals to open the margin.

The Gators were 5 of 16 on power plays and 3 of 4 on penalty shots. Huntington Beach was 2 of 4 on power plays and converted its lone penalty shot.

Riley and Kyle Ballack each recorded a pair of steals for SHP, which was 12 of 33 from the field.

It was a little dicier against Foothill, which led most of the contest. Neither team led by more than two goals at any time during the contest as the Gators rallied from behind in the fourth quarter. Isaac Rotenberg tied the game at 10, Weigle tied it at 11 and scored again after Marco put the Gators ahead.

Price added another nine saves against the Knights.

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