Westlake boys water polo celebrate after defeating Mira Costa 11-10 in double overtime in a CIF-SS boys water polo Division 1 final at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Westlake Coach Greg Olsen gives the players the Championship plaque after defeating Mira Costa 11-10 in double overtime in a CIF-SS boys water polo Division 1 final at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Westlake goalie Alexey Markov makes a stop during a CIF-SS boys water polo Division 1 final against Mira Costa at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Jack Robinson of Westlake takes a shot in the fourth quarter of a CIF-SS boys water polo Division 1 final against Mira Costa at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Christian Couch reacts after scoring a goal in overtime against Mira Costa during a CIF-SS boys water polo Division 1 final at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Westlake’s Zachary Miller (12)scores in overtime in a CIF-SS boys water polo Division 1 final against Mira Costa at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Jack Swenson of Mira Costa takes a shot in the first quarter of a CIF-SS boys water polo Division 1 final against Westlake at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Westlake players celebrate after defeating Mira Costa 11-10 in double overtime in a CIF-SS boys water polo Division 1 final at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Westlake Coach Greg Olsen gives the players the Championship plaque after defeating Mira Costa 11-10 in double overtime in a CIF-SS boys water polo Division 1 final at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
A Westlake coach cheers after defeating Mira Costa 11-10 in double overtime in a CIF-SS boys water polo Division 1 final at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Kai Nelson of Mira Costa looks to pass the ball during a CIF-SS boys water polo Division 1 final against Westlake High School at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Mira Costa’s Grant He (7) takes a shot at Westlake goalie Alexey Markov (1) in the second quarter of a CIF-SS boys water polo Division 1 final at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Jack Robinson of Westlake reacts after scoring a goal against Mira Costa in the fourth quarter of a CIF-SS boys water polo Division 1 final at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Noah Loo of Westlake takes a shot during a CIF-SS boys water polo Division 1 final against Mira Costa at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Goalie Grant Anderson blocks a shot in the first quarter of a CIF-SS boys water polo Division 1 final against Westlake High School at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Grant He of Mira Costa takes a shot in overtime during a CIF-SS boys water polo Division 1 final against Westlake at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Westlake fans cheer for their team during a CIF-SS boys water polo Division 1 final against Mira Costa at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Mira Costa bench reacts during a CIF-SS boys water polo Division 1 final against Westlake at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Westlake fans cheer for their team during a CIF-SS boys water polo Division 1 final against Mira Costa at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Westlake fans cheer in the third quarter of a CIF-SS boys water polo Division 1 final against Mira Costa at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
Show Caption1 of 20Westlake boys water polo celebrate after defeating Mira Costa 11-10 in double overtime in a CIF-SS boys water polo Division 1 final at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Photo by Libby Cline-Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)
ExpandWALNUT — Westlake twice stood seconds from its first CIF Southern Section boys water polo championship and couldnt hold on, but there was no coming back from its third.
Jack Robisons blistering shot from distance 32 seconds into the fourth, three-minute overtime period lifted the top-seeded Warriors (26-6) to an 11-10 triumph over third-seeded Mira Costa in an emotionally draining Division 1 title game Saturday afternoon at Mt. San Antonio Colleges Aquatics Center.
It was a stunning finish to a roller-coaster encounter, one in which Mira Costa (22-12) rallied from a 5-1 second-quarter deficit, finally catching up on Deacon Lessers goal with 11 seconds to play in regulation, and had to do so again on Lucas Pierces strike 6 seconds before the finish of the second extra session to forge sudden death.
“Im usually not on (the right) side of the pool its weird for a lefty to be there but I felt like I was wide open,” Robison said once the celebration died down. “Logan Baumann gave me the ball, and I was like, Oh, yeah, and I buried it. I knew it was going in the second I shot it, and it was almost unreal that it went in. It was just wow. I didnt believe it.”
It was the Warriors second successive sudden-death victory, and, as in Tuesdays semifinal against Yucaipa, they had to rally from behind in overtime.
“Our whole, entire playoff run has been ups and downs, and theyve come back in every single game in the playoffs,” assistant coach Xavier Volgenau said. “I told the boys: If this goes into overtime, were going to win this game.”
Westlake scored three goals on 6-on-5 advantages and converted two penalties to overcome 29 turnovers, two of them feeding the Mustangs three-goal comeback in the fourth quarter for a 7-7 tie. Mira Costa outshot the Warriors, 38-22, but hit the crossbar or post 10 times and converted just one of five extra-man situations. Goalkeeper Alexey Malkov made 14 saves.
“We couldnt put the ball in the goal. Simple as that,” Mira Costa coach Jon Reichardt said. “Everything else was fine. Our defense was great, everything else was good, we just didnt put the ball in the net.”
The Mustangs took a quick 9-7 lead in overtime, on goals by Kai Nelson and Pierce, but Zachary Miller halved the deficit and Christian Couchs fourth goal of the game, on a penalty with 1.7 seconds left in the first overtime period, pulled Westlake even. Noah Loo fired the Warriors ahead halfway through the next session, leading to Pierces equalizer ahead of sudden death after Guenther Flynn tied up Loo on the right flank, forcing an offensive foul.
Couch, who scored Westlakes sudden-death winner against Yucaipa, scored four goals and assisted another, and Robisons winner was his third goal of the afternoon. Pierce and Mikey Ingram scored three apiece for the Mustangs, and Flynn netted two and assisted three.
“We thought we had it,” Ingram said. “Just seeing that last bucket go in was heartbreaking. We were so close but so far. It didnt happen.”
Westlake was overjoyed.
“Seriously, like the feelings unreal. Its just amazing,” Couch said. “Me and these boys have been together for five or something years, weve stuck together through everything. Going into high school, we were all going to go to different schools, but we were like, Were going to stick together and were going to win this ring together.
“Its been a little dream of ours, and now its finally come to fruition, and it feels amazing.”