Water polo splits first two league matches

Ramona High School’s boys water polo team opened Valley League play with a Sept. 23 loss at Mount Carmel but won its home opener Sept. 25 against San Marcos.

The results of the two games gave Ramona a 2-5 overall record as well as a 1-1 league mark.

Mount Carmel is new to the Valley League.

“I knew going in it was going to be tough,” said Coach Donnie Williams. “I think we learned a few lessons.”

The game was scoreless until the Sundevils obtained a goal with about a minute left in the first quarter.

“I thought we would play them tough, and we did,” Williams said. “I thought we really had a shot the whole time.”

Mount Carmel built up a 7-2 lead at halftime, including a goal with one second left in the half.

“They made a couple of matchup changes,” Williams said.

The Sundevils led 11-4 after three periods and concluded the contest with a 13-4 victory.

“We just couldn’t generate the offense that we wanted to,” Williams said.

Goalie Nick Ashton made 13 saves against the Sundevils, including six in the first quarter.

“Nick did a great job in goal,” Williams said. “He made some great saves.”

In the game against San Marcos, Ramona also trailed 1-0 at the end of the first period.

“We started off slow,” Williams said. “We had plenty of opportunities to shoot, but we were shooting atthe goalie or taking bad shots.”

Ramona took a 7-2 halftime lead and finished with a 10-4 victory.

“We finally started getting ourselves in the right frame of mind,” Williams said.

Several Bulldogs put balls into the net against San Marcos while Alan Williams tallied five assists.