On October 5, the boys varsity water polo team found resounding success in their home game against rival Acalanes, with a dominant 13-4 scoreline.
From the first quarter, Campolindo accumulated a large 6-1 lead, making a comeback an uphill task for Acalanes. While the remaining quarters didn’t see as many goals, the lead built in the first quarter proved to be substantial.
Campolindo’s defense proved difficult to crack as Acalanes was given few opportunities to score. The most the away team was able to score within each quarter was only two points. Freshman varsity water polo player Will Maguy stated that “[they] are a very fast team and can use their ability to catch up to people to their advantage.” This prevented turnovers from being overly problematic and ensured smooth transitions from offense to defense, and vice-versa.
The Campo team created scoring opportunities through patience. “We worked hard on making the right play and the right shots at the right time,” Maguy said. Senior varsity water polo player Sean Kim attributed the success to the fact that the team “works hard and stays focused during practice.” Freshman varsity water polo player Ellis Culleton also pointed out that through patience more opportunities arise, “I would say patience can kind of tell your team what to look for.”
The team worked on developing the strategic and tactical aspect of their gameplay. Focusing extensively on patience and running down the shot clock to maximize opportunities while preventing counterattacking opportunities. “We executed well on our coaches’ game plan,” Kim said.
The team can look to the future with confidence after their game with Acalanes. Their upcoming games against SRV and Mira Monte, two of the stronger teams in the league will ensure that Campolindo is tested to a greater degree. “The Acalanes game is definitely a good morale boost for the team overall and I think we gain more confidence in our skills and ability to maintain composure against strong opponents,” Kim stated.
