Strong second half lifts Woodbridge past Redlands East Valley 10-3 in CIF playoff opener

Riley Pittman of Woodbridge takes a shot in the first quarter of Wednesday’s match. (Photo Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)

Woodbridge High’s boys water polo was locked in a tight match with Redlands East Valley in the first half of Wednesday’s CIF Divison 2 playoff opener.

The teams were tied 2-2 at halftime, but third-seeded Woodbridge scored seven consecutive goals to end the match and went on to win 10-3.

Woodbridge moves on to the quarterfinal round on Saturday vs. Mira Costa at Mira Costa.

“It was the first time I’ve seen my team a little bit nervous,” said Woodbridge Coach Matt Campbell. “I think were a little tight at the beginning of the game. We got shooting opportunities but couldn’t put the ball away.

“The difference in the third quarter we started to pick up the pace a little bit and I think our counter-attack started to open up more opportuntites and we started to put the ball away and then things fell into place.”

Riley Pittman scored four goals to lead the Warriors, the Pacific Coast League champion. Dylan Patist and Nik Mirkovic added two goals each for Woodbridge (19-8).

Woodbridge began to turn the momentum at the start of the third quarter when Shayan Sadiq scored on a 6-on-5. The penalty was carried over from the end of the second quarter.,

“I”m always happy when they can find them, it’s always hard to find the open man. He was the open man who put it away and that got us started.”

Redlands East Valley (15-17) came back to tie the match at 3-3 on a goal by Nico Pena. But Woodbridge countered with four consecutive goals in the third quarter to take a commanding 7-3 lead going into the final stanza.

The Warriors added three more goals in the fourth quarter to take a 10-3 lead.

It was a much better start for Woodbridge than last season when the Warriors, top seeded in Division 2, were stunned by in the opening round of the playoffs, losing to Riverside Poly 10-8 in overtime.

This year, the players, including Pittman, have set a CIF title as a goal. Woodbridge its shooting for its first title in boys water polo.

“The top eight all have a chance,” Campbell said. “If the top eight get through the first round, I think everybody knows everybody real well. And it’s who is going to get hot and get a little bit lucky, we’ll see. I think we got a chance.”

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