The boys’ water polo team’s undefeated season goes on

BY HANNAH EUBANKS

On Tuesday, March 5, the Cooper City Cowboys boys’ water polo team went up against Cypress Bay Lightning. The Cowboys won with a final score of 14-8, continuing their winning streak.

The game went back and forth, each team managing to put the ball in the back of the net. However, the Cowboys kept up a strong lead of three or more the entire game.

He was not the only one in the game to rack up the score— Justin Lopez also scored twice. This finished up the game with a score of 14-6.

Jonathan Edelman was ejected three times during the game. The last time he was called led to him being taken out of the rest of the game. Senior Brandon Schleicher was also ejected for 15 seconds, all happening in just the first quarter. Everyone on the team was getting in the game and taking shots left and right. Not only did the Cowboy offense do their job, but so did their first string goalie Jake Tanner. He had to make stops almost the entire game, making some double blocks as well.

“Every year it’s always a good matchup against Cypress,” senior Taylor Willis said. “But this year we really made an impact and dominated the entire game.”

In the first quarter, the score was 6-3, with Cooper in the lead. Schleicher scored two of these goals, Cole Spittler had one and Nick Gomez scored three just in the first seven minutes.

In the second quarter, the Cowboys had to work a little bit more on their defense. Although Cypress Bay only went up by one point, they took multiple shots on Tanner. Tanner had at least three blocks this quarter, finishing off at the buzzer by diving to block a shot right in front of him. With this intensity, the crowd was completely tuned in to the game. The final score of the second quarter was 9-4, with the Cowboys managing to put in three more goals.

“This game was our first real competition and it was good to see that we were not too offensive or defensive, that we can handle both,” Schleicher said.

“It is really important for me as a goalie to keep my head up in games and understand that I can’t stop every goal but at least try and stop them,” Tanner said. “Even if I think I will miss [I should try] because those can be the difference in winning and losing.”

After halftime, the Cowboys came out eager to score. Gomez scored three more times, making that seven goals for him in one game. He was not the only one in the game to rack up the score— Justin Lopez also scored twice. This finished up the game with a score of 14-6.

“This game was our first real competition and it was good to see that we were not too offensive or defensive, that we can handle both,” Schleicher said.

There was a slight change in the lineup during the fourth quarter. Zach Roisman was substituted as a goalie for Tanner. He only gave up two goals and there were no offensive gains. The final score of the game 14-8 and a Cowboy win.

Photo by Carly Cuoco