Mountain View routs Homestead in the pool Mountain View routs Homestead in the pool (October 22, 2004)

Fletcher scores six times in 14-4 win

By Mark Thoma

The Mountain View boys water polo team continued its strong season with a 14-4 victory at Homestead on Oct. 14. With the win, the boys improved their record to 6-0 in league play.

The host Mustangs (6-8 overall) jumped out to a 1-0 lead early in the first period on a goal by Thomas Denton, but the Spartans scored the next six goals and led 7-4 at halftime.

Their second-half effort would be even more impressive, as coach Rafael Alapont's Spartans (11-3 overall) scored seven times without allowing a single Mustang goal.

"Since the beginning of the year, our coach has been working with us pretty hard," Mountain View captain Robert Gregg said of Alapont. "We've definitely gelled as a team."

Spencer Fletcher scored six goals for the Spartans, including three straight in the third period, while Brian Bishop added four more. Also, Gregg scored twice in the first and Ryan Ford scored twice in the fourth.

Homestead's Kenny Russum scored three second-period goals to twice pull his team within three, but the host Mustangs wouldn't threaten again, as the Spartans dominated, thanks to solid teamwork and tenacious play.

"We've been working a lot more on not just remembering the drills but more learning as a team and knowing where the players are going to be and connecting with each other," Gregg said.

Homestead coach Doug Russum acknowledged the Spartans' teamwork and experience, although he felt the game was too physical. Both teams picked up a number of personal fouls as they battled for position and possession.

"Overall, I don't see the refs running the game as they should," Russum said.

Alapont's team was able to win the battle for position and possession against the Mustangs, but he said the Spartans try to be prepared for a variety of styles of play.

"We just try to take advantage of others teams' weaknesses, and we are prepared for any kind of defense they can run at us," Alapont said. "It's about understanding that other teams are going to play different types of defense to disrupt our offense and how to handle that disruption."

Alapont, a vocal leader, has helped the Spartans turn things around after the team posted a 6-22 record last year. Even late in the team's 10-goal win over Homestead, he could be heard shouting instructions at his players.

"It's not because we weren't scoring, but the way we were scoring wasn't the correct way," Alapont explained. "It was fundamental mistakes. Instead of being a ball-hog, they could have made an extra pass to score, or the way the ball came in was the wrong way."

Alapont's strong leadership appears to be paying large dividends for Mountain View.

"It works pretty well, because that's what keeps us going," Gregg said.

Mountain View's strong effort against Homestead was followed by an even more impressive one against Wilcox on Tuesday. The Spartans defeated last year's league champions, 16-3, behind eight goals by Fletcher.

As for Alapont, he's just happy that the Spartans are playing better as a team.

"It's team chemistry," said Alapont. "They're tight inside the water and outside the water. They're starting to see the game more as a team concept than as individual players, and that's the key to our success this year."

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