Downey defeats Warren, 18-12, in boys water polo

DOWNEY – In the first of two rivalry games, the Downey Vikings Boys Water Polo team defeated visiting Warren, 18-12, Thursday (Sept. 24) in a nonleague game.

Leading the way for Downey was a game-high nine goals by junior attacker Emiliano David Gonzalez. Junior attacker Julian Garcia added four goals, while freshmen utility players Yair Mani and Elijah Aguirre added two each.

Warren was led by three players with three goals each – senior utility Noah Benavides, senior attacker Alan Santamaria and junior utility Kayden Mendez.

“We wanted to come into this game focusing on three main aspects – getting rowdy for one another, improving our overall water polo IQ and play what I like to call ‘good’ water polo,” first year Downey boys water polo coach Jarrett Tossey said. “I think we nailed all three during this game, which is why we were able to get creative with our sub rotations and putting athletes in unique situations.

“Warren is a well-coached team so we knew we had to come into this game focused and achieving the goals we set.”

The Vikings, behind five goals from Gonzalez, took a 6-2 lead in the first period.

After Warren took a 1-0 lead in the first, Gonzalez scored five consecutive goals for the 5-1 lead, before Benavides scored for the Bears.

Aguirre finished the opening period with the sixth goal of the period for the Vikings.

Downey continued with four goals in the second led by two more from Gonzalez.

Santamaria and Benavides each scored one for the Bears to trail, 10-4 at the half.

Santamaria scored with 5:34 left in the half to trail, 7-3, which was the closest the Bears would get the remainder of the game.

Leading the way in the third quarter for the Vikings was Garcia with three goals, while Mendez had two for Warren, which trailed 15-8 heading into the final period.

Warren outscored Downey in the fourth, 4-3, to finish the scoring, 18-12.

Tossey said of his two top goal scorers, Gonzalez and Garcia and his goal keeper freshman Eli Mascorro: Gonzalez – “The energizer bunny who is someone who took over the game on the offensive side and was unguardable.” Garcia – “He was a vocal leader, commanding the defense, and ensuring we keep the highest standards in our rivalry game, a true leader of men.” Mascorro – “The backbone of our defense, the wall tdhat ensured tha ball never reached the back of the net, and our hype man in between quarters.”

Assisting the first-year coach are Conner Lipinski, Joaquin De Leon and Sage Bertsch.