SATURDAY

BOYS WATER POLO

DIVISION I

EL TORO (29-2) VS. FOOTHILL (23-7)

Site, time: William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center (adjacent to Irvine HS), 8 p.m.

Outlook: For as intense as this rivalry has been at times, the teams have rarely met in the playoffs. Foothill leads the teams’ postseason series, 2-0. The Knights won a Division I quarterfinal in 2004 and a Division I semifinal in 1995 en route their only section title. The teams have split two matches this season but Foothill captured the most important one. Foothill won the match for Sea View League title, 11-10, in overtime. An apparent goal by El Toro at the end of overtime was waved off because time expired. Goalie Jay Lovero led Foothill in the thrilling match with a career-high 23 saves, including a tone-setting block against El Toro standout Griffin White (119 goals) on a early breakaway. El Toro won the teams’ first meeting, 6-5, at the South Coast Tournament. White and Foothill’s Paul Reynolds each have scored a combined six goals in the teams’ two matches. The Chargers are coming off an 11-4 victory against Los Alamitos, the most lopsided Division I semifinal match since ’98. El Toro is 4-1 in Division I finals under Coach Don Stoll. Foothill is 1-4 in Division I finals under Coach Jim Brumm. Three of Foothill’s losses came against Long Beach Wilson.

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