On Oct. 20, the Aragon boys varsity water polo team (6-4 Peninsula Athletic League)* defeated Menlo-Atherton (7-3 PAL)* 8-7 in sudden death after two periods of overtime on their Senior Night.
Aragon started the first quarter by going a goal down almost immediately after the game began. The Dons equalized before the quarter ended, with a long pass over the top finding senior attacker Xavier McKenzie, who scored despite being dragged under the water by two defenders.
The second quarter began well for the Dons, who capitalized on MA’s ejections. With 5:38 left in the quarter, Aragon had a one-player advantage and junior Ryan Vattuone scored to take the lead. However, MA continued to stay in the game, making it 2-2 with 4:30 left in the quarter. After that, Xavier McKenzie put on a show by scoring two more goals to cancel out two MA goals. The Dons finished the half at four all.
The third quarter was action-packed as the Dons gained a slight lead. McKenzie started the quarter off well, scoring his fourth goal while the Dons had a one-player advantage. It looked as if MA was going to equalize again when they were awarded a five meter shot, but junior goalkeeper Noah Dulac saved the shot and the Dons immediately went up the other end to score. It was McKenzie again who put the Dons ahead 6-4. MA got a goal back before the third quarter was over and it finished 6-5 with a narrow lead for the Dons.
“Everybody had their highlights [and] besides from all of the kick outs, we did beautifully”
Aragon tried to defend their lead in the fourth quarter. However, with only 3:23 left in the game, MA leveled the score at 6-6. The Dons pushed for a winner and saved two shots with 26 seconds remaining, but neither team could pull ahead.
“The game was really close,” McKenzie said. “Everybody had their highlights [and] besides from all of the kick outs, we did beautifully … Our defense was on par the entire time, [but] our offense deteriorated [in] the third quarter.”
Because they were level after four quarters, the game went into two three-minute periods of overtime. The frantic intensity of the game continued as both teams pushed for a winner, but the Dons took the lead courtesy of senior winger Ethan Xie and they closed out the first overtime with a goal ahead, the score 7-6.
However, MA was able to find a goal in the second overtime, with only two minutes remaining. The score was level at 7-7. Neither team could find a winner in the remaining time, so the game went on to sudden death, which meant the first team to score would win.
After such a hard-fought game with so much on the line, both teams were desperate for a win. The intensity was palpable and the pool area was packed with fans supporting both Aragon and MA. With 1:56 seconds left in the game, the Dons won the ball in their half of the pool and took off on a counter attack, with McKenzie leading the way into the attacking third. He waited for support, which came blazing down the left flank. McKenzie tossed the ball over the defense to junior set player Reed Willems who hurled the ball into the back of the MA net, sending Aragon to CCS qualifiers.
“MA has beaten us on our Senior Night for the last three years so we could not let that slide this year”
The JV team went wild on the sidelines and both head coach Carly DeMarchena and Aragon athletic director Steve Sell jumped in the pool to celebrate the wild victory. It was a perfect way to end Senior Night and continue their dreams of CCS.
“If we were to lose, we … wouldn’t have gotten to CCS,” McKenzie said. “That’s why it was really important tonight. MA has beaten us on our Senior Night for the last three years so we could not let that slide this year.”
The Dons have enjoyed a successful season, beating MA on their senior night in an away game. The team relies on returning talent who have years of experience playing together, thus contributing to their unity in the pool.
“[The seniors are] tight-knit, funny, goofy, [and they] sing along to Disney songs at practice,” DeMarchena said.
With the thrilling victory following a close game, the Dons clinched third place in the Bay league and a chance to qualify for Central Coast Section. With this win, and their 11-3 win against Sequoia on Oct. 25, the Dons have qualified for CCS for the second year in a row. Last year, the Dons played in CCS for the first time in 20 years after placing 3rd in PAL.
The Dons’ next game will be on Nov. 5.
*Records as of Oct. 31
