Boys water polo advances to CCS playoffs for the first time since 2007

The Aragon boys water polo team lost 10-3 against St. Ignatius (8-18 overall) in the Central Coast Section playoffs on Nov. 6. Despite a strong defensive first quarter that ended in a 1-1 tie, the Dons couldn’t sustain the momentum. St. Ignatius was able to score four goals in the third quarter and take an 8-2 lead into the fourth quarter that they would not relinquish, closing out the Dons with two more goals.

Junior wing Xavier McKenzie opened up the scoring in the first quarter. After St. Ignatius responded with a goal of their own to tie the game 1-1, junior wing Luke Childress answered with a strong shot into the back of the net at the beginning of the second quarter.

The highlight of the day for Aragon was a save on a five-meter penalty shot in the second quarter by sophomore goalie Noah Dulac, perfectly timing his dive to the left.

“[The five-meter block] was probably the best moment of the season [for me],” Dulac said. “Most of those five-meter blocks are mental. You’ve got to intimidate them. Look them in their eyes, don’t smile, and based on the vibe, you kind of know where they’re going to shoot.”

“The highlight of the day for Aragon was a save on a five-meter penalty shot in the second quarter by sophomore goalie Noah Dulac, perfectly timing his dive to the left”

However, it was not enough to kickstart the Dons and St. Ignatius dominated from there on out. The Dons’ motion offense was stifled by St. Ignatius’ press defense because they were not able to throw entry passes into their hole sets and their possessions often ended in turnovers.

St. Ignatius’ relentless attacks and speed in transition allowed them to bypass the Dons’ switchable defense throughout the entire match. At times, the Dons started fouling, leading to six-on-five opportunities for St. Ignatius.

McKenzie scored his second goal of the game late in the fourth quarter, bringing the score to 10-3, but the game was out of reach at that point.

Despite the loss, the Dons had their best water polo campaign yet under DeMarchena, who started coaching in 2016, reaching the CCS playoffs for the first time since 2007.

“The experience was really fun,” Dulac said. “[We had] great practices [and I] really liked my teammates.”

“It was a huge, huge deal [that DeMarchena won the award]. She’s guided me the most out of any coach I’ve ever had … and really showed me how to play water polo”

Demarchena also won the CCS coach of the year award.

“[The award] meant a lot,” DeMarchena said. “I got to receive it with my boys here at a CCS game.”

McKenzie had a lot of positive things to say about DeMarchena as well.

“She’s amazing, probably one of the best coaches I’ve ever had,” McKenzie said. “It was a huge, huge deal [that DeMarchena won the award]. She’s guided me the most out of any coach I’ve ever had … and really showed me how to play water polo.”

The team looks to build upon their success this year by carrying it over to the next season.