PCL leader Woodbridge survives Beckman’s upset bid and captures 8-7 victory

Alec Isaacman takes a shot for Woodbridge in Tuesday’s match. (Photo Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)

Woodbridge High’s boys water polo team survived an upset bid by Beckman to capture an 8-7 victory in a Pacific Coast League match Tuesday at Beckman.

The Warriors (16-8, 7-0) remain atop the PCL standings with a week and a half left in the regular season.

“I think we came out a little flat and they played hard all four quarters,” said Woodbridge Coach Matt Campbell. “They’ve been playing well and they did well this past weekend (at a tournament). They got third in a tournament.

“I think we got a little nonchalant and didn’t put the balls away we should of and missed a lot of shots. And Beckman hung around and hung around and then we got a game.”-

Woodbridge led 3-1 after one quarter and 5-4 at halftime. But Beckman (10-6, 5-3) tied the match 5-5 on a goal by Elijah Clark late in the third quarter. It was one of two goals for Clark.

Woodbridge held a 6-5 lead after three quarters and extended the margin to 8-5 on goals by Riley Pittman and Dylan Patist in the first couple minutes of the final stanza.

But Beckman countered with consecutive goals, the last one with 1:11 left to trim the margin to one goal.

In the final minute, Beckman got the ball back with 54 seconds remaining, but Woodbridge came up with a steal. The Patriots had one last chance with four seconds left, but could not get off a solid shot as time ran out.

Woodbridge had a balanced scoring attack led by Pittman, Solan Kedzie and Shayan Sadiq, who all scored two goals.

Sadiq is normally a substitute but came up big when the Warriors needed him.

“It’s all about making the extra pass and I have great teammates that set me up with open opportunties and it’s on me to finish and that’s what I did,” Sadiq said.

Sadiq and his teammates are hoping for a strong finish and another league title. Still on the horizon is a match with second place Northwood on Thursday, Oct. 31 at Woodbridge.

“Northwood is a very good team but as long as we play our best and take care of business…. second league title in school history,” he said. “It would be a really great accomplishment but you can’t count your chickens before they hatch.”

After league play wraps up, Woodbridge will open the CIF playoffs. The Warriors are No. 11 in the CIF Division 1-2 poll. The first eight teams will be in Division 1 for the playoffs and the remaining 12 in Division II.

“I think we will be in the top four of Division 2, that’s the right spot for us,” Campbell said.

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com