El Toro Knocks Off Villa Park in Overtime

El Toro Coach Don Stoll collapsed on a bench when it was over, clutching his chest and shaking his head in disbelief, after watching his unseeded Chargers upset fourth-seeded Villa Park, 11-10, in overtime of the Southern Section Division I boys’ water polo quarterfinals Tuesday at El Toro.

With 45 seconds remaining in the extra period and only eight seconds left on the shot clock, junior Danny Pierson let a shot fly from the perimeter that skipped past Spartan goalkeeper Jared Jones.

El Toro (19-11) will play top-seeded Newport Harbor Saturday in a rematch of last year’s semifinals.

Two-meter man Brett McCleave put away the game for the Chargers on Villa Park’s next possession when he made his third overtime steal, and fourth of the game.

“I never had any doubt in my mind that we would win,” said McCleave, El Toro’s only returning starter. “There has always been magic with this program. We did things this year we weren’t supposed to do. My team really steps it up when it counts.”

The score was tied, 9-9, at the end of regulation. The Chargers took the lead with 1:46 remaining in overtime, when Travis Patterson scored a man-advantage goal from eight meters.

The Spartans (24-6) tied the score, 10-10, with 1:14 on the clock, when Bobby Long’s shot went off the fingertips of goalie Jeremy Randall and into the corner of the goal. El Toro won the game on the next possession.

McCleave, who leads El Toro with 144 goals, the school’s single-season record, was held scoreless until the closing seconds of the second quarter. With McCleave struggling, the Chargers fell behind, 4-1. However, McCleave’s goal ended a rally that pulled the Chargers to within one at 6-5. McCleave finished with three goals.

El Toro’s defense held the Spartans scoreless in the third quarter to pull ahead, 7-6.

However, Villa Park battled back in the fourth quarter and took a 9-7 lead on goals by Charlie Fisher, Bobby Long and T.J. Matijevich. But El Toro scored two goals in the final two minutes, including a shot by Matt Fortney with 43 seconds left, to send it into overtime.

In other Division I games:

Newport Harbor 10, Los Angeles Loyola 3--Ryan Cook and Peter Belden were a one-two punch for the top-seeded Sailors (25-5), accounting for all of the team’s goals. And while Cook scored six goals, it was Belden’s offensive and defensive play that made the difference, making three assists and seven steals.

Long Beach Wilson 14, San Clemente 9--Josh Hewko scored three goals to lead San Clemente, which closes the season at 18-8.

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The Division II and VI quarterfinals are today with several intriguing matches taking place.

In Division II fourth-seeded Santa Margarita (19-7) visits Laguna Beach (20-9) in a rematch of an October game that the Artists won, 9-8, in overtime. Third-seeded University (16-7) hosts La Habra (23-7), Servite (23-6) hosts second-seeded Los Alamitos (15-13) and top-seeded Corona del Mar (20-5) visits Edison (22-6).

In Division VI, Brea Olinda travels to fourth-seeded La Verne Damien and Valencia hosts No. 3 Palos Verdes Chadwick.