The Mater Dei boys water polo team secured a pivotal victory against Sage Hill, winning 11-8 in the CIF-SS Division 1 quarterfinals on March 14, 2024. This victory propels the Monarchs into the semifinals, marking their first appearance in this playoff division since 2009.
Strong Start and Key Performers
Competing at Sage Hill, Mater Dei established a commanding four-goal lead in the first quarter and maintained a comfortable margin throughout the game. The third-seeded Monarchs (15-13) will now face second-seeded Harvard-Westlake (12-15) in the semifinals on March 20, 2024. Harvard-Westlake is also making its debut in this playoff division after a long hiatus since 1991.
Defender Noah Jurgensen was instrumental in the Monarchs’ success, scoring four of his five goals in the first half. His performance set the tone for the team, alongside junior Ace Chen, who netted three goals in the opening period. By halftime, Mater Dei led 8-4, demonstrating their offensive strength early in the match.
Chen expressed the team’s determination, stating, “We’re bringing just as much effort as we would have brought if we were in the Open Division. Even though we’re in D1, none of us are down about it. We’re all still excited to go try to win that Division 1 championship.”
First-year head coach Erik Zimmerman echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the team’s consistent effort and resilience throughout the playoffs.
Defensive Strategy and Future Challenges
Mater Dei’s defense played a crucial role in their victory, particularly in limiting Sage Hill’s top scorer, Luke Weichert, to just one goal. The Monarchs effectively neutralized Weichert, who had scored six goals in the previous round against Yucaipa. Jurgensen commented on the matchup, highlighting their strategic focus on defense: “We pressed him as much as we could and avoided foul trouble. We put a hand up whenever he had the ball.”
Junior goalkeeper Morgan Crichton contributed significantly to the win, recording six of his nine saves in the second half, helping to maintain the team’s lead. Meanwhile, Sage Hill’s sophomores Bobby Ray and Aaden Hoang combined for five goals, demonstrating their offensive capability. Sage Hill’s goalkeeper, Noah Rothbard, also made nine saves, showcasing the competitive spirit of the match.
Sage Hill’s coach, Pavle Filipovic, expressed pride in his team’s progress, stating, “It’s huge for us to reach the Division 1 quarterfinals. I’m very proud of the team. We’ve been trying to build slowly.”
As Mater Dei looks forward to their semifinal match against Harvard-Westlake, they aim to capture their eighth section title, continuing their positive momentum in the playoffs.
In the other semifinal, the top-seeded Loyola will host fourth-seeded Dos Pueblos, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the CIF-SS boys water polo playoffs.
