How tough is it to make to a CIF water polo final?
Just ask Dos Pueblos goalie Reggie Robles.
With Dos Pueblos leading second-seeded Ventura by one goal in the last seconds of the second overtime period, Robles blocked a point-blank shot with his face and then came up with another save on a quick shot from the outside.
Ventura got another crack at a tying goal but its shot went off the crossbar and Robles grabbed the ball with a Cougar player right in front of him as the horn sounded.
Dos Pueblos squeaked out a heart-stopping 10-9 Southern Section Division 2 semifinal victory at the Elings Aquatic Center on Wednesday to earn a shot at its first CIF championship since 2005.
The Chargers (28-9) will face crosstown rival, Channel League champion and tournament No. 1 seed San Marcos on Saturday at a local pool. The venue and game time will be determined.
San Marcos defeated Portola in the first semifinal game at the EAC, 12-6.
Saturday will be the fourth crosstown boys CIF final and the first between Dos Pueblos and San Marcos. In the other crosstown finals, San Marcos defeated Santa Barbara in 1994, Santa Barbara beat San Marcos in 2003 and Dos Pueblos topped Santa Barbara in 2004 and 2005.
Dos Pueblos last reached a CIF Final in 2017.
“They’re hard (winning a semifinal), they’re really hard, especially when you’re playing a team that you’re familiar with,” said DP coach Chris Parrish. “It makes it very difficult. They know us really well, we know them pretty well. You know it’s going to be a battle.”
Wednesday’s battle against Ventura (25-10) was an epic game, with both teams experiencing highs and lows, and the fans going crazy in the stands.
“Both teams played really hard,” said Robles, who finished with 14 saves, including four in the second three-minute overtime period and a blocked penalty shot in the third period. “It really shows that (Ventura) really wanted to win the game, too. It was back and forth, we just came out on top.”
The Chargers rallied from a 4-1 deficit after the first period. They held Ventura scoreless in the second period and allowed just one goal in the third as they chipped away at the Cougars’ lead.
Down 5-3, Dos Pueblos scored three incredible goals to take a 6-5 lead at the end of the third period. Jaden Moore went high out of the water to snare a crossing pass from Aden Bishop and release a shot that beat goalie Luke Morda and the shot clock to make it 5-4 with 3:13 left in the period.
Andrew Kline-Fernandez knotted the score with a beautiful lob shot from the right side that nestled into the far corner of the cage.
Ben Fuhrer gave DP a 6-5 lead just before the horn sounded to end the third period. Fuhrer fired a desperation shot that hit the water right in front of Morda and skipped past him.
Freshman Lucas Neushul scored DP’s fourth unanswered goal for a two-goal lead (7-5) with 5:12 left in the fourth period. He caught a cross-pool pass from Bishop and buried his shot inside the far post.
Ventura snapped its drought on a power play as Gianno DelNagro scored on a rebound of a Merrick Giles shot that was blocked by Robles.
Grant Nelson drew a penalty on a drive toward goal and Jaden Moore converted the penalty shot for an 8-6 DP lead.
Neushul buried another clutch outside shot for a 9-6 advantage with 3:48 to go.
Parrish praised Neushul and others for scoring in clutch situations.
“Oh man, there’s so many (big plays) that I’m probably going to be up all night just reliving them, like the cross as time is expiring hits Jaden in the hand and he just passes it into their goal. It was unreal,” said Parrish. “And Ben as time is expiring, (his shot) rolls over the goalie’s head into the goal. I can’t believe that kind of stuff, it was so lucky. But, that’s wonderful sometimes.”
Jaden Moore led the Chargers with four goals while Fuhrer and Neushul each scored two.
Giles, Evan Augusta, Ian Moore and Fonua each scored two goals for Ventura.
After Robles made a save on a Ventura power play with 2:45 to go, Dos Pueblos appeared to be in good shape to close out the game.
But things got crazy.
Dos Pueblos got careless with the ball as it tried to work the clock.
Robles was called for a major foul on a scramble for the ball and Ventura was awarded a penalty shot. Augusta beat fill-in goalie Jaden Moore to make it 9-7 with 2:20 left.
Cole Loomis drew another penalty for the Cougars and Augusta converted again to make it a one-goal game with 2 minutes to go.
Ventura tied the score with 22 seconds left in regulation. On a long pass into the DP end, Giles beat Robles to the ball and scored into the open net.
“It wasn’t dramatic enough being down three,” said Parrish. “We had to be up three and back tied again.”
Dos Pueblos continued to struggle offensively as Ventura stole the ball and called timeout with 11 seconds left. The defense rescued the Chargers as they blocked a shot in the field as the period ended.
Fuhrer scored the only goal of overtime at the 1:50 mark of the first extra period. He took the ball down the right side and finished a shot from a sharp angle.
Ventura got the ball inside to Fonua, but Fuhrer and Bishop converged on him and prevented a shot.
Robles was the hero of the second overtime with his three amazing saves. He stuffed Loomis at the near post with 1:12 to go and followed with his face block on Ian Moore and a stop on Fonua’s quick shot.
Parrish said he was already looking ahead when Ian Moore came in alone against Robles
“I was like, ‘Well, that’s a goal.’ I got to draw up a play to get another goal so we can win this. But he just blocked a shot with his face and just came forward. It was unbelievable.”
Robles was amazed how the Chargers pulled out the win.
“I don’t even know, honestly,” he said. “We just locked down on defense. We watched film from our last game, where we lost 12-6, and we just looked at what we did wrong and what we did right and just improved on everything in practice.”
Jaden Moore said, “It feels amazing,” going to the CIF finals. “I’ve played with these guys (from Ventura) in club and I always said, ‘We’re going to beat you guys in the high school season.’ And it finally came through.
“My team really showed up and we were able to get the win.”
Parrish said the Chargers deserve to be playing in the CIF Final.
“They’ve worked really hard. Since I came back last year, they’ve done everything I’ve asked them to do. They deserve something like this, especially the seniors that have been doing this for four years now in school and a couple of years prior to coming to high school.
“It’s really gratifying to give them a chance. They’ve earned it. It’s really gratifying to see them get a chance to play in the final.”
