Derek Cousineau and the Triton boys water polo team are 13-7 overall on the season. Photo by Jeff Fisher
by Adam Herzog, Darian Nourian and Steve Breazeale
BOYS WATER POLO
The Triton’s boys water polo team (13-7, 2-1 league) played a combined five matches between October 4 and October 6. The first game resulted in a loss as the Tritons were defeated by Carlsbad 11-9 on October 4. On October 5, the Tritons lost to Coronado 14-13 in double overtime, and then followed that game up with a 7-3 loss to Bellarmine. The next day was much better for San Clemente, as they defeated Jesuit 9-6 and Clovis West 15-5. San Clemente finished off the week with a 9-5 South Coast League win over Aliso Niguel on October 9. Chase Hamming had five goals and a steal in the game.
Next Game: 10/12 vs. Villa Park, at Villa Park, 4:15 p.m.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
The girls’ volleyball team took on the Tesoro Titans in a league match October 4 at Tesoro. San Clemente won the first game, 25-18 before dropping three straight to lose 3-1. San Clemente’s Mackenzie Northup had 33 digs to keep it close. The Tritons (7-9, 1-2) dropped another league match after losing to Mission Viejo 3-0 on October 9.
Next Game: 10/22 vs. Tesoro, 5 p.m.
GIRLS GOLF
The San Clemente girls golf team faced off against Dana Hills on October 4 in a league match at Bella Collina Country Club. The Tritons lost the match 233-214 and fell to 0-4 in South Coast League play. Alex Cooper was a medalist for the Tritons after shooting a 40 (+4) through nine holes. The Tritons were set to play San Juan Hills October 10 at San Juan Hills Golf Club. Results were not available at press time.
Next Match: 10/11 vs. San Juan Hills, at Talega, 2:30 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
The San Clemente girl’s tennis team took on Capistrano Valley High School in an important league match on October 3 and came away with a victory. The Tritons beat the Cougars by winning the singles matches, 6-3, and the doubles matches, 5-4, combining for an 11-7 victory.
Next Match: 10/18 vs. Dana Hills, at San Clemente High School, 3 p.m.
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
The girl’s cross- country team recorded a perfect 4-0 multi-team record at the South Coast League Cluster at Irvine Regional Park on October 3. The Tritons were led by junior standout Melissa Eisele, who finished with a first place time of 17:36.
Next Meet: 10/13 at Orange County Championships, at Irvine Regional Park, TBA
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
The San Clemente boys cross country team finished with a 0-4 multi-team record at the South Coast League Cluster at Irvine Regional Park on October 3. The Tritons couldn’t quite catch up as El Toro, Aliso Niguel, Dana Hills and Trabuco Hills all finished ahead of the Tritons. Next up, the Tritons look to improve at the Orange County Championships on October 13.
Next Meet: 10/13, at Orange Country Championships, at Irvine Regional Park, TBA
FOOTBALL
After dropping their last two games by sizable margins, the San Clemente Tritons looked to bounce back with a win in their South Coast League opener against El Toro at Trabuco Hills High October 4. But their plan to stop a two game skid was derailed when they ran into Conner Manning and the high-powered Chargers offense as the Tritons lost their third straight game, 49-37.
The Chargers (7-0, 1-0 league) were led by their stand out senior quarterback Manning, who went 26 of 37 and threw for 349 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions. He came into the game leading the county with 27 touchdowns and only one interception.
The Chargers proved they have more than just a prolific passing game, as senior running back Jacob Furnari took 36 carries for 194 yards and scored four rushing touchdowns.
The Chargers ended the game with a glaring 543 yards of total offense. On defense, the Chargers were anchored by senior Jeffrey Nelson, who had five sacks.
San Clemente (4-3, 0-1) led the Chargers early, jumping out to a 14-0 lead after senior quarterback Sean Donnelly threw to sophomore Sam Darnold for a 25 yard touchdown, which was quickly followed by an interception by junior Kelsey Benoit off Manning, which he took back for a Triton touchdown.
Manning and the Charger’s offense bounced back strong, stringing together two touchdown drives; both ending with Manning strikes to senior Cody White from 33 yards out and senior Alec Shoffeitt from 21 yards out to tie the game at 14 after the first quarter.
The Triton’s Christian Bailey kicked off the second quarter with a two-yard touchdown run but Furnari would respond with touchdown runs of his own on ensuing drives to give the Chargers their first lead of the game at 28-21.
An impressive 50-yard field goal by San Clemente’s senior kicker Brett Miller would cut the deficit to 28-24 at the half.
Donnelly was playing in his first game back after being out two weeks with a shoulder injury. The senior completed 14 of 21 passes for 235 yards and threw two touchdowns as well as an interception.
Furnari added two more rushing touchdowns to his total in the second half and Manning tacked on a two-yard touchdown pass to Shoffeitt. The Chargers led 42-24 after the third quarter and didn’t look back.
The Tritons tried to stage a late comeback after a 79-yard Donnelly touchdown pass to Sydney Reynolds and a Darnold interception return for a touchdown, but they were ultimately unable to overcome the large deficit.
The Tritons look to break their three-game losing streak next week when they play host to their South Coast league rival, Mission Viejo, on October 12 at 7 p.m.– Darian Nourian
