Senior Dylan LeBaron shoots the ball past two enemy players to score a goal. Photo by Vinh Nguyen.By Dzuy Nguyen, Staff Writer
This Wednesday, Barons boys’ water polo pushed through against the Marina Vikings in a smashing victory, despite heavy losses to the team’s varsity lineup. Senior center Justin Yang and attacker Khoi Pham were unable to play due to disciplinary reasons, but the team fought hard in a victory of 9-4.
The match was off to an explosive start, with impressive goals scored from both sides. However, as the first quarter heated up, senior Dylan Lebaron scored two pivotal goals back-to-back and put the team up 4-2.
Despite a fast-paced first quarter, the second quarter of the match deescalated and moved towards a more moderately-paced game. The Barons continued to battle the Vikings and refused to let up even in the most tiring circumstances. However, senior Kyle Graham landed a momentous helicopter backhand into their goal and further placed the Barons up 5-2. Towards the end of the quarter, Lebaron scored his fourth point of the game which ended the quarter 6-2.
The game continued at a slow pace into the third quarter. Senior goalie Jake Huynen played impressively and successfully blocked a myriad of shots from the opposing side. Despite this, the Vikings started off the quarter with a well-placed shot which brought the score back 6-3. However, the Barons refused to back down and shifted the game to an escalating pace and gained a decisive point that ended the quarter 7-3.
Going into the fourth quarter, the match intensified as the ball raced back and forth between the two teams. Barons played excellently with a superb defense and field blocked many of the Vikings’ shots. The teams exchanged a point that brought the score up to 8-4; but towards the end of the quarter, Lebaron, surrounded by four opposing players, despite all odds, was able to land an extraordinary shot to end the match with a score of 9-4.
“We practiced a new defense this game; it was specific to Marina. It was by putting two players to the goal. It really shut them down, and we drove a lot more than we usually do. The first quarter was the most pivotal once we started getting those goals going,” said Varsity Coach Jacob Moore.
Even though the team was down two starting lineup players, the team was unphased and battled hard to prevail in a triumphant victory for FVHS.
