On Oct. 28, the Aragon boys water polo team (17-4 overall) played San Mateo (1-2 overall) for their senior night game and won with a final score of 14-7. It was a tough matchup, but the Dons came out on top, closing out the game with a sizable margin in the final quarter. Aragon went in with a strong mental game, staying focused to avoid past mistakes against the Bearcats.
“Last time we played San Mateo, we slipped up in the second half [and] they got a little comeback,” said junior Kurt Nguyen. “So overall, we just wanted to be locked in the entire game.”
This focus was consistent throughout the team, with the emphasis on a win especially important due to senior night.
“Of course, we were looking to see if we could get ahead really early,” said coach Julian Garcia Mendes. “But we really wanted to make sure that this game was dedicated to our seniors.”
There was a charged atmosphere as players prepared to celebrate the seniors and bring home a win in the second game of league play.
“Emotions were really high today,” Mendes said. “It felt like it was like a video game, a big stadium. You could just feel the energy from the crowd and the players.”
Players also focused on staying ready and energized for the matchup, especially in the hours leading up to the game.
“I’m gonna bring the energy today, of course everyone brings the energy on our team, especially our team captain, Simon Nakaruba,” Nguyen said.
The game began tight, with Aragon initially unable to materialize the early advantage emphasized by the players and coach. However, there was a turning point halfway through the third quarter.
“Especially with some of the calls in the first half, keeping our composure was a really big part of it,” said junior Odin Le.
The Dons did just that as they carried a consistent five-point lead over the Bearcats heading into the last quarter. A key aspect of maintaining this lead was defense and communication.
“I was focused on just trying my best to make it as hard as possible for them to shoot and being verbal with my team and telling them where to go,” said sophomore Maddox Volte.
His performance in the goalie box was key, keeping San Mateo from making a comeback late in the game.
“Maddox was on top of it today, he had some really key saves,” Nguyen said. “That was a huge part of our defense.”
That defense was supported by a cohesive team effort across the pool.
“We worked together really well as a team, and we were talking to each other a lot,” Volte said. “As a team, we’re one of the most communicative teams, and we have the biggest team bond.”
That unity translated into a fluid offense as well, with several players contributing goals and assists to widen the gap late in the game.
“I dropped the most goals on the team, lots of assists,” Le said. “I feel like I distributed the ball very well to people, and we got the seniors in for the last quarter, and that was the goal.”
Despite a few tense moments early on, Aragon’s ability to stay composed and maintain energy throughout the match proved decisive.
“It was the mindset going into the game,” Le said. “Everyone really played their best, and especially the seniors.”
The Dons closed out the night with a strong finish, sending off their seniors with a statement win, but they later ended their season with a 10-4 loss against Burlingame on Oct. 31.
