IRVINE — Dos Pueblos’ tremendous CIF boys water polo playoff run was stopped by an opponent with a strong defense and goalie.
Dos Pueblos fell 10-6 against La Serna in a Division 2 semifinal game on Wednesday at the Woollett Aquatic Center in Irvine.
The loss ended an exciting playoff run by the Chargers. After finishing fourth in the Channel League, they won three CIF games by one goal.
Brody Luke scored four goals and Jaden Moore had two to account for all the Dos Pueblos scoring on Wednesday.
Aidan Gutierrez had four goals to pace La Serna (27-8), which got an outstanding game from goalie Coen Kuns.
He made a big save and Gutierrez scored at the other end to give La Serna the lead for good, 3-2, at the 2:23 mark of the second period. The goalie then blocked a penalty shot and Evan Borunda capitalized with goal to make it 4-2.
After trailing 2-0 to start the game, the Lancers scored their fifth answered goal as Gutierrez converted on a 6-on-5 advantage for a 5-2 halftime advantage.
La Serna struck first in the third period on goal by Agustin Cornejo.
DP snapped its scoring drought as Luke converted on a penalty shot to make it 6-3 at 5:51 of the third period.
The Lancers’ defense came up with a steal and scored on a counterattack to give them a four-goal lead.
Luke rose high out of the water and beat Kuns with a long-distance shot, but the La Serna goalie responded with two big saves against the Chargers on their next posssession.
La Serna scored with 17 seconds left in the third period for an 8-4 advantage.
Gutierrez finished on a power play for a 9-4 lead at 4:59 of the fourth period before Andrew Kline-Fernandez and Jaden Moore scored back-to-back goals for Dos Pueblos to make it 9-6.
Tanner Avalos fired in a quick shot on power play for La Serna to complete the scoring.
It marked the first time in the CIF playoffs that the Chargers (25-10) allowed an opponent to score in double digits.