Menlo’s varsity boys water polo team pulled off a dramatic 8-7 comeback win over St. Francis High School on Thursday night in the CCS Open Division semifinal. The win improves the Knights’ record to 21-6 on the season and sends them to the CCS championship game, where they will face Sacred Heart Prep on Saturday at 4 p.m. at SHP.
While Menlo ended the first quarter up 3-2, St. Francis kicked into gear and pulled ahead to secure a 7-5 lead at the end of the third quarter. The Knights entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed, while the Lancers were No. 6.
In the fourth, sophomore Hunter Coleman took over, scoring three goals, while the Knights held the Lancers scoreless to lift Menlo to victory.
“I think it was a really great effort in the fourth quarter. On Saturday, we’re going to come out really hard and win,” Coleman said.
Sophomore Lincoln Bott also scored three times for the Knights, while sophomore Adam Afar and freshman Andres Profit each added goals as well.
Head coach Jack Bowen was proud of his team’s effort in the pool. “The press was perfect, the spacing was perfect and the energy was off the charts,” Bowen said.
The Knights fell to the Gators in their two matchups this year, but Bowen is looking forward to a rematch against SHP in the CCS final. “Without [senior] Alex Stoffel in the water it’s going to be a challenge, but this group of young men has a lot of character and we’re excited to come out and play our best,” Bowen said.
