Men’s water polo off to hot start

The Saddleback men's water polo team is 3-0 for the first time since 2015 after sweeping past Cerritos College and Rio Hondo College on Friday at the Golden West Invitational.  The Bobcats won a tough battle with Cerritos in the morning before cruising past Rio Hondo in the afternoon.

Saddleback started hot and never trailed against a solid Cerritos squad.  The Bobcats jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first quarter as Alec Isaacman, Dylan Gallegos, Riley Kraatz and Andrew Barnuevo all scored in the opening seven minutes of the game.

Cerritos closed the lead to 5-4 midway through the second quarter when Saddleback grabbed back the momentum.  Isaacman (pictured) scored consecutive goals to extend the lead to 7-4, and Cerritos would never again get back within two throughout the rest of the game. 

With the Bobcats leading 7-5, Saddleback scored six of the next seven goals to put the game on ice.  Jack Stevens and Riley Kraatz both scored two goals apiece during the run as Saddleback extended the lead to 13-6 with under two minutes remaining in the third quarter.  The Bobcats again extended the lead to seven goals at 16-9 late in the fourth quarter on a goal from Spencer Sellwood.

Saddleback defeated Rio Hondo 16-6 in game two, but stats will not be provided until Saturday.

Saddleback will play perennial power (host) Golden West at 7:00 AM on Saturday before finishing off with Los Angeles Valley at 12:40 PM.