STUDIO CITY, CA – In a rematch of last year’s Open Division final, Harvard-Westlake (Studio City) reminded the water polo world why they are perennial contenders. In a grueling, physical battle on Saturday, the Wolverines managed to outlast JSerra Catholic with an 11-10 victory in sudden-death overtime.
The hero of the afternoon was junior attacker Otto Stothart, who skipped a perimeter shot into the back of the net just 45 seconds into the sudden-death period. The game was a defensive masterclass for much of the second half, with Harvard-Westlake’s goalkeeper Jameson Peters recording 14 saves, including a crucial penalty-shot block in the final minute of regulation.
“The resilience this group showed is incredible,” the Wolverines’ coach said. “JSerra is elite in every position, so you have to be perfect in your transitions to beat them.”
With the win, Harvard-Westlake officially takes over the top spot in the CIF-SS rankings, snapping JSerra’s 15-game winning streak in the process.
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