A rivalry renewed A rivalry renewed (October 08, 2004)

Lancers best Eagles in third meeting of the season

By Colleen Corcoran

And so they met again.

For the third time this season, the St. Francis boys water polo team faced Los Altos, this time during the third-place game of the St. Francis Invitational on Oct. 2.

Running a zone split defense that hasn't been used by a CCS contender in over five years, St. Francis double-teamed Los Altos wonderboy Tyler Smith, forcing the Eagles to look to someone else to score.

Los Altos did not adjust, did not score and lost 13-6. The Eagles finished fourth in the tournament.

St. Francis took third, losing 10-5 in the semifinals to Menlo School, which ultimately won the tournament.

"They play a very, very physical game of water polo," said Los Altos assistant coach John Walker of St. Francis.

And they are fast.

"Speed is our strength. We move well," St. Francis coach Terry O'Donnell said. "We make a lot of inexperienced mistakes because we're a little bit young, but they're aggressive mistakes, so it's good. We're moving, and we're trying to do things right."

What speed is to St. Francis, Tyler Smith is to Los Altos.

A member of the U.S. Junior National Team, Smith has played around the world. At 6 feet, 5 inches tall, he has the advantage of height.

"If we need to revolve around Tyler, we will, but he's not everything," Walker said. "We go to him quite a bit, but we also have a couple other players that we try to get free in different situations."

When Smith is effective though, so is Los Altos. When he is not, the Eagles suffer.

On Sept. 18 at Menlo's Scott Roche Invitational, Los Altos beat St. Francis 10-5. The Eagle defense was strong, and Los Altos exploited Smith's abilities using a 6-on-5 power play.

On Sept. 22, St. Francis beat Los Altos 13-12 in triple overtime. The Lancers capitalized on rebounds in front of the Los Altos goal and on Smith's removal from the game for swearing.

"If we get some good refs and play our own game, we can beat St. Francis," Walker said.

But not until CCS playoffs will the two teams have the chance to play again.

Meanwhile, St. Francis faces Bellarmine at home on Oct. 12. Los Altos plays Gunn at home on Oct. 13.

(Editor's Note: Los Altos head coach Jon Wiener is a Voice reporter.)

E-mail Colleen Corcoran at sports@mv-voice.com

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