PHOTOS: Crean Lutheran earns first trip to CIF finals with semifinal win

Blaise Tomassian of Crean Lutheran takes a shot in Wednesday’s semifinals. (Photos courtesy Crean Lutheran Shutterbugs/Howard Lyon).

Crean Lutheran’s boys water polo team is headed to the CIF finals for the first time in the history of the program under first-year Coach Ed Carrera.

The top-seeded Saints sealed their trip to the finals Saturday at the Woollett Aquatics Complex with an 18-8 victory over Westminster in the semifinals Wednesday at Ocean View. Crean Lutheran (22-6) will face Ocean View, which defeated Heritage 11-9 in the other semifinal Wednesday. Ocean View is 14-14 overall.

To see the slide show, please click on the first photo:

Coach Ed Carrera has taken the Saints to the finals for the first time.

Crean Lutheran fans support the Saints Wednesday.

Nikolas Mohrman of Crean Lutheran gets ready for a shot.

The match will be played at 9:30 a.m. at the left course pool. Crean Lutheran has put together a string of victories after qualifying for the playoffs for the first time.

In Wednesday’s match, freshman Mark DiPinto led Crean Lutheran with six goals, sophomore Jonathan DiPinto had four goals, freshman Bobby Holmes had three goals and junior Tate Fitzgerald had two goals.

Freshman Nikolas Mohrman had two goals and senior Blaise Tomassian had one goal.

“Austin Griffin played amazing in the goal for us leading out counter attack and had four assists and five saves,” Carrera said.

Carrera said he’s excited about the finals.

“It’s a great accomplishment to make it to the finals, but job is not finished,” he said.