Returning from spring break, the Metea Valley boys water polo team plunged back into action as they clashed with conference rival Neuqua Valley. In the previous season, the Wildcats emerged victorious in both encounters, setting the stage for a highly anticipated match. This coverage is brought to you by BMO.
The Wildcats wasted no time asserting their dominance, with an early offensive flurry. Declan Puacz opened the scoring with a swift goal, setting the tone for Neuqua Valley’s relentless attack. Building on their momentum, Mario Valente orchestrated a seamless play, feeding Puacz for his second goal of the game within minutes, propelling the Wildcats to a 2-0 lead.
Shortly after, Tony Newton’s precise pass found Gabrial Wu amidst traffic, allowing Wu to showcase his skill with a backhand goal, extending Neuqua’s lead to 4-0 in the first quarter.
As the second quarter unfolded, the Mustangs found a foothold in the match as Alex Bounds and Matthew Henkle combined efforts, resulting in Metea Valley’s first goal of the game, narrowing the deficit to 4-1 with five minutes remaining in the half.
With halftime looming, Puacz’s well-placed pass found Wu once again, who capitalized on a one-on-one opportunity, securing his third goal of the game and extending Neuqua’s lead to 6-1. Mario Valente added one more goal just before halftime, sending Neuqua Valley into the break with a commanding 7-1 advantage.
In the second half, Neuqua Valley maintained their momentum, with Eli Peterson and Sam Sinzheimer combining for another goal, pushing the Wildcats’ lead to 8-2 by the end of the third quarter.
Entering the final stretch of the game, Neuqua Valley continued to showcase their offensive prowess. Colin Mullligan’s composed play culminated in the Wildcats’ tenth goal, solidifying their victory with a final scoreline of 10-4 over Metea Valley.
With this win, Neuqua Valley boys water polo improves to 3-5 for the season, further solidifying their position within the conference standings.