Long Beach Wilson Defends Title

Long Beach Wilson High defended its Southern Section Division I boys’ water polo title with a 9-8 overtime victory over Santa Ana Foothill Wednesday night at Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach.

Wilson overcame an 8-4 deficit for the victory.

Jeff Nesmith scored the game-winner with 3 minutes 18 seconds left in overtime after Foothill’s Matt Ellis was ejected. From then on, Wilson (28-1) played solid defense, allowing Foothill only three shots.

“When I called a time out near the end of the game, I told my kids to let all the emotion out,” Wilson Coach Ricardo Azevedo said. “They played with emotion and were able to come back from being down by four points. If that’s not emotion, then I don’t know what is.”

The score was tied, 4-4, at halftime.

Foothill came out strong in the third quarter as Matt McPherson recorded his second goal. Nick Pirro and Eitan Goldstein followed with goals to give the Knights an 8-4 lead.

Wilson sophomore Tony Azevedo scored in the last minute of the quarter to make it 8-5.

In the fourth quarter Wilson’s Mike Komrosky scored back-to-back goals. Azevedo sent the match into overtime on a penalty shot with two minutes left.

Jaison Robinson had 11 saves for Wilson, Nick Ellis 13 for Foothill (24-5).