Three Top 10 State-Ranked Teams Highlight Men's Water Polo Race
The 2023 South Coast Conference men's water polo title race is shaping up to be a 3-team affair as #4 Mt. San Antonio, #5 Long Beach City, and #7 Cerritos are all members of the CCCWPCA State Top 10.
Mt. SAC (11-3) opened SCC round-robin play with an 20-5 win over Chaffey and is excited after utility player Alex Lopez earned State Player of the Week honors as he leads the state in goals (86), assists (51), steals (53), shot attempts (118) and points (137). He has scored five or more goals in 12 different games. He touched the double-digit mark in goals twice, including a 10-spot v. Palomar.
The Mounties have a loss v. #2 West Valley (18-13) but did well against the military in defeating Air Force Academy, 19-14, and Army, 20-11, at the USAF Rare Air Challenge tourney held at Colorado Springs on Sept. 1-3.
Long Beach (3-4) is the 5-time defending conference champions and hold a 23-match win streak in SCC play dating back to 2018. The Vikings begins their conference play on Sept. 27 v. Chaffey. LBCC has an All-SCC First Team returning attacker in Michael Minera, who has 19 goals thus far. The Vikings' record is deceiving as they are 3-1 v. California Community College teams, including an 11-6 loss to powerful defending state runnerup West Valley.
Cerritos (8-6) recorded an 18-1 win over Chaffey in its SCC opener and figures to challenge both LBCC and Mt. SAC. Utility player Joshua Lamberton is sixth in the state in goals with 45. The Falcons also participated at the Air Force tourney, beating Army, 22-6, and played tough v. 6-time, defending state champion Golden West in a 10-7 loss at the GWC Tourney on Sept. 8 while also losing to #3 Saddleback, 17-12.
El Camino (4-6) faces Cerritos in its SCC opener on Oct. 4. The Warriors have a top scorer in Marc Bugarin, 11th in the state with 32 goals. ECC has two wins each v. Santa Monica and Fullerton.
It's not been easy for Chaffey (0-5, 0-2) who faced and lost to both Cerritos and Mt. SAC already and then play LBCC next week. Parker Black leads the Panthers with 20 of the team's 30 goals so far this year.
Long Beach hosts the SCC Championship Tournament on Nov. 2-4.
Release by Robert Lewis, SCC SID