LJ b water polo: Vikes avenge being "dog-walked" by Bishop's

By Ed Piper

Liam Flanagan's figure of speech describing La Jolla's underdog status to Bishop's that the Vikings used as motivation in the CIF semifinals Tuesday night, Nov. 12, was a vivid and curious one:

"We just took from our past experiences from getting dog-walked by this team...", the five-goal scorer said, in the hectic start to La Jolla students' celebration of their team's 12-11 upset of the Knights, as several boys jumped into the water right next to the Viking team bench.

I wouldn't have caught it except for my recorder, which I had on and quickly dashed over to Liam with after the final horn.

He couldn't hear me, partially distracted by all the hubbub, partially from all the noise that erupted around him. So I repeated my question: "Your scorers were effective. How did you do it?"

The senior, still wearing his "6" cap, gave a very coherent answer, especially considering the circumstances.

Then Coach Tom Atwell put an arm on me to allow Liam to join the parade of team members slapping hands with the opponents at the edge of the pool. It wasn't malicious, he was just being a mother hen getting his brood of chicks back in line.

So I pursued the team down the deck, and right after Flanagan finished giving hand slaps, I darted in, recorder ready again.

"Keep on, with what you were saying," I told Liam, which was, "...and we didn't want to have that (being dog-walked) happen again. So we came all out."

Again, on task, very present-of-mind, the Viking starter said, "We got dog-walked earlier in the season, and we knew their weaknesses, and exploited them."

Bishop's beat La Jolla in a league match Oct. 9 at Coggan Pool. It was 8-5 in favor of Bishop's at halftime. For the seniors, especially, there has been a long run of difficult losses to the Knights and their coaches Doug Peabody and Ian Davidson over the years. It has been a slog. You go in thinking, what if it happens again?

Tuesday night a newbie, Dexter Black, a sophomore who hasn't lived and died a thousand deaths through those losses, continued to shine in big matches and the postseason with three goals from his spot on the right side of the cage. He is rising to the occasion.

The seniors, including Liam and his brother, Aiden, finally avenged some of those losses with the CIF semifinal win. They'll play again Saturday night, Nov. 16, in the CIF final against Cathedral Catholic.