Piedmont High School’s boys water polo team came away with a 2-2 record at the Monterey Bay Invitational on Oct. 4-5.
The Highlanders (12-6) opened with a tight 11-10 loss to Willow Glen on Oct. 4. Henry Stein and Elles Krieckhaus each scored three goals to lead Piedmont. Krieckhaus added an assist. Leo Hurwitz added two goals while Charlie Wright and Rylan Patty each scored one goal. Wright also had an assist and a steal. Luke McAuliffe added three saves.
Zachary Maxson scored four goals to lead Willow Glen. The game was 10-10 at the end of regulation. Christian Rangel scored the game-winner in overtime.
Next came a 15-3 loss to Archbishop Mitty. Hurwitz, Stein, and Zach Dupree scored the goals for the Highlanders. Dupree also had an assist while Wright had two steals. McAuliffe recorded four saves. Tucker Gavin led the Monarchs with four goals while Luke Lajeunesse and Chase Zanghi each had three.
On Oct. 5, Piedmont defeated Morro Bay, 18-12. Krieckhaus busted out for seven goals and two assists to lead the Highlanders. Patty had five goals and two assists. Stein and Hurwitz each had two goals and an assist. Dupree and Wright scored one goal apiece. McAuliffe had nine saves. Ryker Robson had six goals to lead Morro Bay.
Piedmont then finished with a 13-12 win over Aptos. Krieckhaus had five goals and an assist to lead the way. Patty and Hurwitz scored three times each. Dupree had two goals and an assist. Taj Race scored five goals for Aptos.
Hurwitz’s goal won the game in double-overtime.
“The team really came together facing some tough competition in the Monterey Invitational,” Highlanders coach John Savage said. “Lots of good teams. Our defense dramatically improved as our communication got better. Offensively, Elles Krieckhaus, Leo Hurwitz, and Rylan Patty carried the load. We are really happy with Elles’s progression this year, realizing he can be the best player in the water on both sides of the game – offense and defense. Luke as always had great games in cage, delivering some big blocks and passing out to
counterattacking players.”
On Oct. 3, Piedmont defeated Lick-Wilmerding, 19-12. On Oct. 1, the Highlanders beat San Leandro, 18-6. On Sept. 23, Piedmont downed American, 13-9.