Water Polo (Boys) | 10/23/2024 3:46:00 PM

The Cathedral Catholic boys varsity water polo team delivered an outstanding performance at the prestigious North vs. South Challenge hosted by Sacred Heart Prep in Northern California. This highly competitive tournament featured some of the best water polo teams in the state, providing the Dons with a perfect opportunity to sharpen their skills as they prepare for the playoffs.

The Dons finished with an impressive 5-1 record, showcasing their resilience, grit, and determination throughout six action-packed games. Here's a recap of their standout performances:
 

Day 1: Thursday, October 17

3:00 PM vs Campolindo – Win 10-8
The Dons started their tournament run with a thrilling come-from-behind victory against Campolindo. After falling behind 1-4 early in the match, the Dons responded with a powerful 4-goal run, evening the score at 5-5 at halftime. Led by Jett Taylor's hat trick, the Dons took the lead in the third quarter and continued to extend it, ultimately securing a 10-8 win.

8:00 PM vs Tamalpais – Win 14-9
Cathedral Catholic dominated Tamalpais in their second match, jumping to a 12-2 lead by the third quarter. Kenly Braylen Axline and Eamon Bruhn each scored 3 goals, and despite some late goals from Tamalpais, the Dons comfortably secured a 14-9 win.

Day 2: Friday, October 18

10:10 AM vs Miramonte – Win 7-6
In a tightly contested match, the Dons edged out Miramonte 7-6, with Eamon Bruhn leading all scorers with 3 goals. Neither team led by more than two goals throughout the game, but Cathedral's defense held strong in the final moments to secure the victory.

4:00 PM vs Oaks Christian – Loss 10-13
The quarterfinal equivalent against Oaks Christian was a high-energy, back-and-forth battle. The Dons surged ahead 5-3 after the first quarter, but Oaks Christian fought back to tie the game by halftime. In the second half, Oaks Christian controlled the tempo, and despite 3 goals each from Diego Dantas and Jett Taylor, the Dons fell 10-13 in their only loss of the tournament.

Day 3: Saturday, October 19

10:15 AM vs De La Salle – Win 18-17 (Double Overtime)
In an intense, high-scoring battle against De La Salle, the Dons came away with a thrilling 18-17 win in double overtime. Cathedral Catholic dominated the first half, building a lead of up to three goals at several points, heading into halftime up 10-8. The second half proved to be a back-and-forth affair. Although the Dons never lost the lead, De La Salle always had a response, keeping the game within one goal. Regulation ended with a 15-15 tie, pushing the game into overtime. The Dons netted two goals in overtime, but De La Salle's last-second equalizer sent the match into sudden death. In a dramatic finish, Maximus Arnold scored the game-winning goal, securing victory for the Dons. Kenly Braylen Axline led all scorers with seven goals, but Arnold's clutch shot in sudden death was the highlight of the game.

3:30 PM vs Sacred Heart Prep – Win 9-6
In the tournament's final game, the Dons closed out their run with a convincing win over Sacred Heart Prep. The Dons jumped out to a commanding 7-1 lead, with even scoring across the roster. Despite a late push from Sacred Heart, Cathedral held on for a 9-6 win, securing 5th place overall in the tournament.


The Dons' 5-1 record in this elite competition is a testament to their ability to compete at the highest level. Their strong showing will undoubtedly provide momentum as they prepare to close out the regular season and begin their playoff campaign next week. Congratulations to the entire team on an outstanding performance at the North South Challenge!

Roll Dons!