Estancia in thick of playoff hunt

Estancia boys water polo for Wed.The Eagles need to win just one of their next three league games to earn a CIF Southern Section playoff spot.COSTA MESA -- The Estancia High boys water polo team survived star 2-meter man Chad Kunert’s ejection from the game early in the fourth quarter, and held on to post a 10-9 victory over Westminster Tuesday in a Golden West League matchup at Costa Mesa High.

The Eagles, looking to make the playoffs for the first time in Kunert’s four years on the varsity squad, led 7-5 after three quarters, thanks in part to a game-high four goals by the senior 2-meter man.

But Kunert was called for an exclusion shortly after the fourth quarter started. It would have been his second of the game. But Kunert didn’t realize he’d been whistled and stayed in the middle of the action, so Westminster was awarded a 4-meter penalty shot and Kunert, receiving a double-exclusion, was bounced from the game.

“I didn’t really like that call,” Kunert said.

Westminster’s Rene Cuevas skipped in the ensuing 4-meter penalty shot and the Lions pulled to within 7-6.

The teams traded goals throughout the fourth quarter.

Estancia, ahead 9-8, had a chance to put the game away on a 6-on-4 opportunity, but Trevor McDonald’s shot in close was saved by Lion goalkeeper Brian Blaga.

“At halftime I said we have to come out strong and get a couple of goals, but we could never seem to put them away,” Estancia Coach John Carpenter said. “That’s something we have to work on.”

McDonald scored on a blistering shot from the outside to give the Eagles a 10-8 lead with 49 seconds left in regulation time. But Westminster’s Cuevas (three goals) scored 10 seconds later from the 2-meter slot to cut the lead to 10-9.

The Lions made one more rush to try to tie it with time running out, but Estancia’s Robert DiFrancisco and Scott Hulett converged on Westminster’s Gary Zamorano before he could get a shot off and the Eagles escaped with the victory.

“When they played drop defense on us, DiFrancisco (two goals) and McDonald (three goals) scored on some outside shots that saved us,” Carpenter said.

Kunert, Estancia’s leading scorer, opened the day’s scoring with a goal from the 2-meter position late in the first quarter. After Westminster’s Angel Alvarez scored on a counterattack, Kunert scored again from the 2-meter slot to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead. Kunert scored three of the team’s four goals in the first half.

Kunert added an assist on DiFrancisco’s power play goal and scored a goal from the perimeter with the man advantage in the third quarter to give the Eagles a 7-5 lead.

Most of the man-advantage situations Estancia received came courtesy of Kunert, who demanded a lot of attention in the 2-meter set position.

Kunert was fouled at least a handful of times. The Eagles converted on five of eight power play opportunities.

“We’ve really been working hard on our set plays in practice, and it paid off,” Carpenter said. “I’m proud of the way the guys executed today.”

Estancia, with only two reserves, had to dig down deep after Kunert was ejected from the game.

The Eagles played without senior Danny Alderete, who had to sit out after missing a couple of practices.

Estancia also was without Josh Young, who was sick.

But the team persevered to improve to 10-6 overall and 3-0 in the Golden West League.

The victory puts Estancia in a good position in the Golden West League. Estancia has league games remaining against Costa Mesa, Saddleback and Santa Ana with the league title on the line.

Alderete, one of the team’s top offensive weapons, should be back for the stretch run.

One victory out of those three games gets the team in the CIF Southern Section playoffs. Two victories lands Estancia in second place in the Golden West League. Three victories gives the Eagles the league championship.

Next week the Eagles play Saddleback Tuesday and Costa Mesa Thursday. Estancia finishes league action at rival Santa Ana Nov. 1.

“Next week is a big week for us,” Carpenter said. “We beat the teams we had to beat. Now we have to beat the stronger teams in the league. I expect the kids to go after it.

“Saddleback beat Costa Mesa by five, so I’d say they will be our toughest competition.”

Kunert isn’t thinking league title. He just wants to make the playoffs for the first time.

“I’d say Santa Ana is our best bet for a win,” Kunert said. “I really want to see the team go to CIF. I want to go out with a bang.”

Golden West League

Estancia 10, Westminster 9

Score by Quarters