LJ g water polo 11, Torrey Pines 6 - 1/13

Aviana Cavaiola (black cap, 3, far left) scores

under heavy pressure from Torrey Pines

with 6:10 left in the game to give La Jolla

a 7-5 lead. The Vikings went on to an 11-6

win in the non-league contest.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

The Lancers of Torrey Pines, a moderately successful team (6-6), came into Coggan Aquatics Complex Tues., Jan. 13, and played one of their top games of the season.

Coach Alex Williams' unit was hanging with La Jolla, an elite team (13-3 against tougher competition), trailing narrowly, 6-5, beginning the fourth quarter.

But along with Torrey Pines' inspired performance, Coach Tom Atwell's hosts had another dynamic going on Tuesday. Some of his starters apparently had shown up late, and they had to sit out during the first quarter to serve their punishment.

Would Atwell have sat them out if it were a crucial Western League game, helping deciding playoff positions in the postseason bracket for the Open Division?

Apparently, so. "I lost a CIF quarterfinal (playoff) game" holding a star player out, Atwell responded, subsequent to when this post was published.

"That is something I will never compromise" (player accountability), the coach said.

This was a non-league game, not as important by comparison. Much to the Lancers' credit, they actually led 1-0 as both teams started slowly and senior Finley McNamara finally scored with 1:51 left in the first quarter.

From there, it was center Ella Gataric scoring four goals, as Atwell's team struggled to settle into some kind of groove and on offense and defense.

Viking Avi Cavaiola scored her third goal to start the fourth period, putting La Jolla up 7-5. Avery Edstrom followed a minute later for an 8-5 lead.

Torrey Pines countered coming out of a timeout with a set play that had Gataric slam-dunking a pass from close range into the goal, as senior goalkeeper Lucia Vega was caught off-guard. 8-6.

As Atwell screamed at his defense, Avi, then Clara Siddons, deposited goals that put the game out of reach into the Vikings' hands.

The La Jolla coach said before the game that, to their credit, his players have distributed their scoring more in the last two weeks.

However, he noticed during the Troy Tournament in L.A. last weekend (Jan. 9-10) that his squad needs to work on "finishing" out games. Only the rest of the Western League schedule will answer that question.

Meanwhile, the Vikings play in their own Beaches Invitational this coming weekend, Fri.-Sat., Jan. 16-17. They face Del Norte at 2 p.m. Friday afternoon at Coggan. Cathedral Catholic opens against El Camino at 5 p.m. at Standley Aquatics Center.