By Steve Breazeale
Follow us on Twitter @SouthOCsports for updates on all the San Clemente fall sports teams.
- Tritons Girls Golf Advances to CIF Tournament
The San Clemente girls golf team had a successful two-day stretch at the South Coast League finals that culminated in them winning a berth into the CIF Southern Team Championship.
The Tritons (9-4, 5-3) finished third in the South Coast League.
Usually, the Tritons play nine holes for regular season competition. But for the league finals, the team played 36 holes from October 21-22 at the San Clemente Municipal Golf Course. Alex Cooper placed third overall after shooting scores 77 (+4) and 82 (+9). Madison Wiedeman placed fifth with scores of 86 (+13) and 81 (+8). Both Cooper and Wiedeman now advance to the CIF Southern Individual Regional, which will be played on October 28 at Mile Square Golf Course in Fountain Valley.
The team will compete in the CIF Southern Team Championship on October 31 at Costa Mesa Golf Course.
Dolphins Defense Stymies Tritons Water Polo
For most of Tuesday’s South Coast League match between the San Clemente and Dana Hills boys water polo teams, defense was the name of the game. But a third period offensive push by the home team Dolphins, coupled with the play of their goalie, ensured an 11-7 Dana Hills victory.
The Dolphins (12-6, 4-0 league) defense pressured the Tritons (11-12, 2-2) early, forcing shots to be taken from the perimeter. Outside of an early goal by San Clemente junior Chase Hamming, which made it 1-0, the Tritons did not score another goal until three minutes into the second period. The Dolphins, however, benefitted from five unanswered goals from four different players to take a 5-1 lead.
The Tritons were held in check during that stretch by Dana Hills senior goalie Brody Zachary. Zachary recorded nine straight saves that started after giving up the first-period goal and stretched midway into the second. He would end up with 24 saves on the night.
“He is a great goalie and does a great job,” Dana Hills head coach Matt Rosa said. “When he knows where the shots are coming from, he’s really good and I thought he shut down those shots and knocked them down. I think he did exactly what he was supposed to do.”
The Dolphins put an emphasis on marking San Clemente standouts Drew Papilion and Hamming, the Tritons main offensive weapons. For the most part, the Dolphins defense slowed them down. Papilion and Hamming both netted three goals apiece and were responsible for a late-game flurry. San Clemente was trailing 10-3 with five minutes to go and Papilion and Hamming accounted for three of the Tritons final four goals.
Spencer Likins scored four goals for Dana Hills and Marko Asic contributed three. Asic also had three assists and five steals on the night.
Tritons Girls Cross Country Takes Third at OC Championships
Behind two top-10 finishes from senior Melissa Eisele and junior Kelsey Carroll, the San Clemente girls cross country team finished third at the Orange County Championships on October 19.
Eisele placed sixth overall with a time of 17:34 and Carroll finished ninth (17:39). Eisele’s time was the third fastest posted by a senior and Carroll’s was the third fastest for a junior. Junior Grace Georgi placed 22nd (18:13) and Katie Carroll finished 31st (18:27) for the Tritons.
The top of the Orange County Championship podium was a familiar sight for the Tritons, as they were joined by South Coast league opponents Capistrano Valley (first-place) and Trabuco Hills (second).
The San Clemente boys cross country team finished 17th overall in the Division 2 varsity race. They were paced by senior Matt Parker, who finished 41st with a time of 16:35. Sophomore Conner Dunne (16:52) and junior Josh Vollebregt (16:57) finished 65th and 73rd, respectively.
Tritons Girls Volleyball Duels With Dolphins
In what could be a preview of the South Coast League deciding final game of the season, the Dana Hills girls volleyball team took the first of two matchups on the year against rival San Clemente on October 17.
The Dolphins (14-4, 4-0) won in four sets, 25-20, 20-25, 25-18, 25-18.
The Tritons (9-11, 3-1) came into the game riding a three-game South Coast League winning streak but were halted by Dana Hills and their strong outside hitters. Dolphins senior Tia Scambray had a game-high 32 kills and a team-high 14 digs in the contest. Teammate Nikki Matheis had 12 kills and 11 digs.
The Tritons were led by senior outside hitter Taylor Brubaker (19 kills) and sophomore Cali Hoye (10 kills). Sophomore setter Marie Paris had 42 assists.
The two teams will meet again in the final game of the season on November 4, with the league title likely on the line.
Mission Viejo Football Routs San Clemente 70-17
Turnovers plagued the San Clemente football team in their 70-17 loss to perennial powerhouse Mission Viejo on October 18.
The Tritons (2-6, 0-2) threw three interceptions, two of which that were returned for touchdowns, and lost a fumble as the Diablos (7-0, 1-0) opened their South Coast League schedule.
Mission Viejo’s defense got them going in the first quarter as Jake White intercepted a pass from Tritons quarterback Loren Applegate and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown. The Diablos would build their lead following a 50-yard touchdown pass to Sean Modster and a one-yard Tony Williams touchdown run.
Mission Viejo quarterback Ian Fieber tossed three touchdown passes for 300 yards on the night.
San Clemente got on the board in the first following a 27-yard Blake Gonzalez field goal. Applegate would connect on a 68-yard touchdown pass to Jake Russell in the second quarter. The two would combine to score again eight minutes later on a five-yard scoring strike just before the half.
However, that would be the last time the Tritons would score.
San Clemente will now take a much needed bye week to heal up lingering injuries and prepare for a South Coast League matchup with Tesoro on November 1.
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