This installment of the Battle Of The Blueprint rivalry at the Moore League Boys’ Water Polo Showcase on Wednesday was all Millikan as the Rams rolled to a 21-1 win over rival Lakewood at Cabrillo High.
Millikan got balanced scoring as it relied on out-swimming Lakewood in transition. Ben Weldele led the Rams with four goals, and Rory Kleven scored a hat trick. Alex Carroll dished out a team-high five assists while scoring a pair of goals. Nick Yoon, Max Miller, Matt Brown and Cade Brounley also scored two goals each. Millikan goalkeeper Owen Fahringer had 13 saves and five assists.
“Today I thought we could get out on the counter, so that’s what we did,” Millikan coach Danely Smith said. “I think defense is definitely our strength. We’re working on putting the offense together.”
Millikan is playing without injured 2-meter Seamus McDonald (wrist) so Smith is looking for new go-to guys down low.
“We’ve got an underclassman in Matt Brown playing the 2-meter,” Smith said. “We’ve also got some good seniors in Kleven, Brounley and Yoon. If we can get a little bit out of 2-meter, and rely on those other guys, that will help. But we’re trying to build a team offense and it’s not about one guy.”
Lakewood goalkeeper Kobe Heaton finished with 10 saves, and Roman Avvieta scored the only Lancers goal in the second quarter.
