Alumni Water Polo Club traveled back to the Woollett Aquatics Center down in Irvine, CA Saturday and Sunday, April 1st and 2nd to compete in the Championship tournament of the 2017 U.S.A. National League. After finishing 2nd overall in the regular season, Alumni WPC went into the weekend looking to win the third ever USA National League. However, in by far the most competitive National League season yet, Alumni WPC knew it had a tough road to make the championship game having to defeat the defending champions - New York Athletic Club.
ALUMNI WPC 13 v USA Collegiate 6
Daniel Lenhart, UCLA had himself an impressive season finishing 3rd overall in scoring for Alumni WPC with 9 goals.
To open up the weekend, 2 Alumni WPC (5-2) played 7 USA Collegiate (1-6). Alumni WPC wanted to put this game away early to allow some players to get some rest before the Semi-Final game. But, USA Collegiate struck first in the first minute with a natural goal out of set. Greg Enloe answered soon thereafter on a man up off the nice assist from Kevin Witt. Alumni WPC did not stop there as they found the back of the net two more times. Jack Wall struck from distance for his first of the game and then Andrew Reego drew and scored his penalty shot off the great entry pass from Daniel Lenhart to go up 3-1 at the end of the first quarter.
Again, USA Collegiate struck in the first minute of the quarter. The two teams traded goals as Matt Burton scored his first of the weekend. The rest of the quarter was quite defensive, but despite a clock malfunction, Reego was able to beat the halftime buzzer as he scored again, this time from the outside on a 6-on-5 to make 5-3.
The second half was all Alumni WPC. They rattled off 3 consecutive goals behind Reego's third, Wall's second, and a great counter attack goal by Nick Fadden. Ely Bonilla had himself a particularly strong quarter leading Alumni WPC to a shut-out to make it 8-3 going into the fourth.
USA Collegiate scored its third goal in the first minute of a quarter. But again Alumni WPC had an answer, Lenhart scored his first of the weekend. From there the teams traded some goals, but Alumni WPC's lead never waivered. Reego led all scorers for the game as he scored his fourth. Witt also found the back of the net to help lead Alumni WPC to the comfortable 13-6 win advancing them to the Semi-Final game where they would face the defending champions - New York Athletic Club.
ALUMNI WPC 05 v NYAC 8
Matt Burton, USC was huge for Alumni WPC all season, not only being its 5th leading scorer but more important being one of its absolute best defenders.
For the Semi-Final, while the players for NYAC were the same, 2 Alumni WPC (6-2) faced a very different, more focused 3 NYAC (6-2) team than the one it beat just three weeks prior. NYAC set the tone right off the bat scoring again on Alumni WPC in the first minute to make 0-1. Daniel Lenhart had the answer to tie it back up, but only before NYAC would score two more times to close the quarter at 1-3.
To open up the second quarter, Greg Enloe scored his second of the day to make it 2-3. From there, Alumni WPC had plenty of opportunities to tie it up, but they saw many missed man up advantages. With Alumni WPC to take the game into their hands, NYAC finally made the push scoring two late goals before the half closed making it 2-5 NYAC.
The third period saw the same offensive troubles for Alumni WPC. They drew 13 ejections in the game (5 more than NYAC), but could score one of them until the fourth period. Alumni WPC had plenty of opportunities to get make the game closer. Andrew Reego and Griffin Lerman went 0/5 and 0/4 respectively. Despite, Chay Lapin - who led the entire US National League in save percentage http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/uswp/genrel/auto_pdf/2017-18/misc_non_event/2017NLLeaders.pdf - having another stellar performance of the tournament, with the offense unable to strike, NYAC finally found the back of the net two more times to make 2-7.
NYAC scored once more to open up the final quarter on a counter attack goal again coming from a missed opportunity by Alumni WPC. But, the offense woes ender there. Jack Wall blasted in a goal again from distance. Then Reego drew another penalty, this time Matt Burton stepped up and put it away. Quickly thereafter, Burton scored again on a man up to make 5-8. Alumni WPC had one more opportunity to score, but it was all too little too late as the game finished 5-8 NYAC.
ALUMNI WPC 06 v USA University 8
Griffin Lerman, UCI is not only Alumni WPC's defensive captain and number one center defender, he also tied for leading scorer for Alumni WPC with 12 goals for the season.
In the final game of the 2017 Spring National League Season, 2 Alumni WPC (6-3) faced 4 USA University (5-4) for the 3rd place overall. USA University opened up the game with two strikes to make 0-2. From there, the rest of the quarter was all defense as Chay Lapin was phenomenal yet again. It seemed this quarter for USA University would prove to be the difference in the game.
Jake Young opened up the scoring getting on the board for the first time of the weekend making it 1-2. Unfortunately, USA University answered with two more goals. Wes Lincoln scored his first of the weekend from the outside off a great assist from Kevin Witt. Again the defenses were very strong and the half finished 2-4.
Ely Bonilla came into the game filling the big shoes of Lapin. Aside from both teams traded goals, as Griffin Lerman opened up his scoring for the day off a nice strike on 6-on-5 advantage, Bonilla was also very impressive. Both defenses were again strong and the quarter finished 3-5.
To begin the fourth, both teams again traded goals, this time Nick Jordan scored his first goal of the season off a powerful goal from two-meters. Lerman then went off and had two more rips from the outside, but again it was too little too late and Alumni WPC fell 6-8 to USA University.
The 2012 USA Olympian Chay Lapin, UCLA proved he is still one of the best goalies in the country today and led all goalies in save percentages for the season.
Although the weekend may not have been quite as successful as Alumni Water Polo Club wanted, one great thing did happen to make it a very special weekend. Eric Sturgeon and his wife Katherine had their baby girl Ember Waiakaokala Sturgeon Sunday, April 2nd at 10:38 pm. Huge Congratulations to both of them!
As the USA National League finished its third season, Alumi WPC has players at the very top of the all-time standings.
- Andrew Reego is the 2nd All-Time Leading Scorer with 51 goals and Griffin Lerman is tied for 9th overall with 36 goals.
- Andrew Reego and Kevin Witt are tied for 7th in Assists with 15 each, Matt Burton is 15th with 12, and Griffin Lerman is 18th overall.
- Alumni WPC has three goalies - Chay Lapin, Ely Bonilla, and Brandon Brooks - all in the top 10 for Goalie Save Percentages.
To see more pictures from the weekend please go see our new
Alumni Water Polo Club National League Tournament #3- Roster
GP G SH EX A S
1. Chay Lapin 5 - 63 blocks / 3 ass / 5 stl
2. Brian Kinsel 2 0 1 5 0 0
3. Kevin Witt 9 7 19 2 9 8
4. Nick Fadden 9 3 4 1 4 9
5. Griffin Lerman 9 12 38 5 4 20
6. Andrew Reego 9 12 39 8 10 12
7. Matt Burton 9 6 20 9 8 12
8. Jake Young 9 3 5 11 1 8
9. Greg Enloe 9 5 15 9 3 10
10. Nick Jordan 9 1 6 12 1 3
11. Lance Morrison 6 6 16 4 1 7
12. Jack Wall 7 5 23 4 2 6
13. Ely Bonilla 5 - 54 blocks / 6 ass / 4 stl
14. Daniel Lenhart 9 9 26 2 8 11
15. Wes Lincoln 9 3 6 3 0 4
16. Jeremy Pope 7 1 5 1 1 2
17. Michael Zellmer 0 - 00 blocks / 0 ass / 0 stl
18. Brandon Brooks 0 - 00 blocks / 0 ass / 0 stl
Alumni Water Polo Club National League Tournament #3- Final Results
( 6 – 4 )
FOURTH PLACE OVERALL
QUARTER FINAL -
ALUMNI WPC 13 | USA Collegiate 6
Andrew Reego 4, Jack Wall 2, Daniel Lenhart 2,
Greg Enloe 1, Nick Fadden 1, Kevin Witt 1,
Matt Burton 1, Jeremy Pope 1
| Ely Bonilla 11 blocks
SEMI FINAL -
ALUMNI WPC 05 | NYAC 8
Matt Burton 2, Greg Enloe 1,
Daniel Lenhart 1, Jack Wall 1
| Chay Lapin 13 blocks
PLACE GAME -
ALUMNI WPC 06 | USA University 7
Griffin Lerman 3, Wes Lincoln 1,
Jake Young 1, Nick Jordan 1
| Chay Lapin 7 blocks & Ely Bonilla 5 blocks