Southern Section 3-A Water Polo Semifinals : Allevato’s Goal in Sudden Death Propels San Clemente to Victory

Standing next to the pool at Belmont Plaza--a pool he just had been pushed into--Steve Yancey was dripping with water and bubbling with enthusiasm.

The San Clemente High School water polo coach was amazed. Stunned. Unable to collect his thoughts.

“Unbelievable . . . no way . . . I don’t even . . . I can’t believe . . . this is too much,” Yancey said.

San Clemente had just defeated Capistrano Valley, 9-8, on a goal by Sam Allevato in sudden-death overtime. The victory enabled the Tritons to advance to the Southern Section 3-A final against top-seeded El Toro on Wednesday.

It’s a lot further than Yancey felt his team would go this season.

“This is a team I didn’t even think could qualify for the playoffs,” Yancey said. “The way we were playing back in September, there was no way. I mean we were four games under .500 when league started.”

San Clemente turned it around then--finishing third in the South Coast League--and did so again Saturday in the semifinals.

Capistrano Valley, co-champion of the South Coast League, seemed to have things well in hand in the fourth quarter. The Cougars, who had trailed, 5-2, at one point, rallied to take a 7-6 lead on a 4-meter penalty shot by Paul Felton.

With 1 minute 24 seconds left, the time was right for the Tritons to fold.

They didn’t.

With time running out, San Clemente’s Kevin Perkins was double-teamed in front of the net. He dumped off to Allevato, who spotted a wide-open Mike Ankrom on the right wing.

Ankrom took the pass from Allevato and beat goalie Nick Kittridge to the left for the tying score with 26 seconds left.

“We could have easily given up,” said Yancey, whose team had lost to the Cougars, 8-6, in league.

“And we did a few times in the fourth quarter. We were playing like we did back in September. But this has become a team. They work together now.”

San Clemente (16-11) took the lead in the first overtime period on a goal by Perkins with 2:03 left. The Tritons defense, keyed by goalie Paul Linnebach, appeared to clinch the victory by forcing consecutive turnovers, the last coming with 33 seconds left.

However, the Tritons were called for delay after failing to move the ball up the pool. The second-seeded Cougars (19-5-1) took possession with 19 seconds left and Kevin Eggert tied the score, 8-8, with 6 seconds left.

“That was the coaches’ fault,” Yancey said. “We saw the referee signaling and we should have called time out. I’m glad Sam made up for it.”

Capistrano Valley won the sprint to start the sudden-death period. However, Linnebach made a save, giving the Tritons the ball.

Cory Puentes lobbed the ball inside to Allevato, who turned and beat Kittridge to the left for his fourth goal of the match and the match-winner.

“Sam saved us,” Yancey said.

San Clemente took control of the match early and twice led by 3 goals. The defense snuffed out the Cougars’ offense, limiting it to 1 goal in the first half.

With 3:41 left in the third quarter, Allevato scored to give the Tritons a 5-2 lead. But the Cougars came back, scoring 4 goals in 3 minutes to tie the score.

In the other 3-A semifinal:

El Toro 10, Riverside Poly 8--The top-seeded Chargers opened a big lead and were never threatened at Belmont Plaza.

“We’ve had some problems lately of scoring in the first quarter,” El Toro Coach Don Stoll said. “I felt it was important we got out fast today.”

El Toro (20-1) led, 4-1, at the end of the first quarter, with Mathew Teeple scoring 3 of the goals.

The Chargers increased its lead to 10-3 going into the fourth quarter. Teeple finished with 7 goals.

Heath Baker scored 6 goals for Riverside Poly (16-13).