SATURDAY

DIVISION II FINAL

SERVITE (20-13) VS. MATER DEI (23-7)

Site, time: William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center (adjacent to Irvine High, 3:45 p.m.

Outlook: In the teams’ Trinity League showdown Oct. 9, host Servite scored the first four goals but the Monarchs rallied for an 8-5 victory.

Top-seeded Mater Dei is seeking its first section title. Last season, the Monarchs made their first appearance in a CIF final but fell to Villa Park, 6-4.

Mater Dei’s playoff run has been powered by stingy defense. The Monarchs are allowing an average of 3.6 goals per match. Goalie Colin Carroll is averaging 11 saves in the run.

Attacker Alex Wherry (88 goals) has paced the Monarchs’ scoring in CIF by averaging four goals per match.

Unseeded Servite finished in a three-way tie for second place in league and won a tie-breaker match to enter the playoff as the Trinity’s No. 3 entry.

The Friars have a powerful center in Cruz Smithson (92 goals) but have flourished in the playoffs with a balanced attack. Six players scored in a 9-7 victory against JSerra in the semifinals while five scored in a 9-8 upset of second-seeded Villa Park in the quarterfinals.

Servite is 2-0 in Division II finals this decade (2005, 2002).

DIVISION II SEMIFINALS

SERVITE (19-3) VS. JSERRA (19-9)

SITE, TIME: William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center, 5 p.m.

PREDICTION: The Friars were remarkably calm after defeating second-seeded Villa Park on Saturday. "We haven't won CIF yet," Servite senior Cruz Smithson said. "We're not done." Servite has lost to JSerra in league in 2007 and 2008 but they will figure out Coach Petar Asic's squad this time and reach the finals. JSerra hits the big time in 2009.

I will post more updates on matches as I receive them today.

Division II quarterfinals

Villa Park (22-7) vs. Servite (18-3), at Joint Forces Training Base, noon

Prediction: The water polo Gods have smiled upon fans with a classic quarterfinal match. The defending champion Spartans own 11-7 and 12-11 (OT) victories against the Friars. The latter match is the better read of how close these teams really are. Villa Park played without Scott Brush but still led 9-5 going into the fourth. The host Friars then got hot in the fourth. This time, the match stays closer the entire way. Brush is no longer on the team per coach's decision, Villa Park athletic director Tom Fox confirmed. But in the end, this match comes down to Josh Samuels vs. Cruz Smithson, a pair of SOCAL club teammates. Smithson and the Friars show well but Samuels will be much too fresh not to meet the challenge. Villa Park wins a close match in regulation to reach a semifinal date against JSerra.

Division II second round

Servite (17-3) vs. Mission Viejo (16-11) at Capistrano Valley, 6:45 p.m.

Prediction: The Friars hit the road again and face a senior-dominated Mission Viejo squad. Co-champs of the South Coast, the Diablos are well-balanced and have a standout in lefty Andrew Baker. But Servite also is very solid and has a star in center Cruz Smithson. In mid-October, Mission Viejo measured itself against one Servite's rivals, Mater Dei, and were in the match at halftime before falling, 11-4. Servite's inside-outside attack will be too much for the Diablos and the Friars will advance to play Villa Park for a third time.