Water Polo (Boys) | 10/6/2024 10:44:00 AM

The Cathedral Catholic Varsity Boys Water Polo team had a solid showing at the Elite 8 Tournament hosted by Harvard-Westlake High School, finishing with a 3-2 record. Competing against some of the top high school teams in the country, the Dons displayed both depth and resilience throughout the event.

One of the tournament's most competitive and thrilling matches was against host school Harvard-Westlake in a semi-final play-in opportunity. Fans were treated to a high-intensity, back-and-forth battle, with many calling it one of the best water polo games they've ever seen. Cathedral took an early lead, going up by three goals, with sophomore Kenly Braylen Axline leading the offensive effort. Axline scored 9 goals and drew 8 exclusions, while fellow sophomore Eamon Bruhn contributed 4 assists and 3 goals. Cathedral Catholic's depth was on full display as six different players found the back of the net during the high-scoring contest. Junior goalie Oren Penning made 11 saves, keeping the Dons competitive in the high-paced match.

Despite a strong start, Cathedral Catholic found themselves down by three with just 90 seconds left in regulation. The Dons mounted an incredible comeback, going on a 3-0 run, tying the game on a last-second goal from sophomore Jett Taylor that sent the crowd into a frenzy by netting the tying goal as the final buzzer sounded, forcing overtime. However, after two overtime periods, the game remained tied, and Harvard-Westlake ultimately scored the golden goal in a third sudden-death overtime, edging out the Dons in a hard-fought contest.

The team's full results from the tournament include:

• Loss to Newport Harbor, 3-8
• Win vs. Loyola, 17-9
• Win vs. Bishop's School, 13-7
• Win vs. Loyola (rematch), 14-9

Overall, the Elite 8 Tournament provided a valuable opportunity for Cathedral Catholic to measure themselves against some of the strongest programs in southern section. The Dons will now shift focus to their upcoming match on Senior Night, scheduled for Wednesday, October 9.