On Saturday, Oct. 28th, boys’ varsity water polo won the 2023 Marin County Athletic League (MCAL) championship for the second year in a row in a thrilling match settled in overtime. Redwood and Archie Williams faced off in the finals after beating Tam and Terra Linda on Wednesday night.
At the end of the first quarter, Redwood was leading by one point by a score of 3-2 and built on their lead heading into halftime with a score of 6-4. The third quarter went back and forth between the teams, ending with the Giants still leading by a score of 9-7. However, the boys conceded four goals while only scoring two in the fourth quarter, sending the game into overtime at 10-10.
In the first half of overtime, the Giants scored one goal, leading Archie by one point going into the second half of overtime. Then, both teams traded goals, but the Giants maintained their one-goal lead to win the title after a hard-fought match.
Top scorers senior Theo Eschliman and sophomore Andrew Wallace made three goals each, completing a championship hat trick. Other outstanding players were junior Ossie Joplin and sophomore Charlie Poser, each scoring two goals. Senior Ryan Voges and junior Sawyer Goldberg also tallied goals, each scoring one, respectively. Goalie Will Rauzi had an outstanding sixteen saves out of thirty-four shots taken by Archie Williams’ players.
Head coach Rudy Kardos had a team meeting after the exciting win to discuss the game.
“That’s what you do. If they underestimate you, you have to show them every single one of us is like anybody else on the team,” Kardos said to the team. “This is what can happen if you play as a team.”
As the long season closes, the boys’ varsity water polo team can reflect on a successful season, bringing home yet another banner while knowing they are the team to beat next year.
