Regional water polo: Stingy defense keying unbeaten Belen’s bid for another state title
While scoring goals is what often brings crowds to their feet, it’s limiting other teams from scoring which has made the biggest difference so far this season for the Belen Jesuit water polo team.
The Wolverines once again rode one of the stingiest defenses in the state to another impressive win Friday when they smothered Ransom Everglades for a 16-6 victory in a boys’ regional semifinal at their home pool.
“We had an excellent prep before the season when it came to conditioning and it really got us ready to perform the way we have,” Belen coach Jimmy Aguilera said.
Belen (17-0) remained unbeaten and will host Gulliver Prep on Tuesday in the regional finals as it moves closer to its goal of winning the school’s fourth state championship and first since winning back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2016.
The Wolverines have not allowed a team to reach double-digits in goals scored in a game this season.
“We have an excellent defense and we’ve been working hard on that part of our game and the results are showing,” Aguilera said.
Carlos Veccio scored four goals including three in the second quarter as Belen jumped out to a 10-1 lead and held Ransom to only two goals over the first three quarters. Dylan Veccio also had three goals while Daniel De Lamar had two goals.
“(Veccio) is a tremendous player, very intelligent and it’s shown in games this season,” Aguilera said. “He shows up in the big moments.”
Paolo Rebessi led the Raiders (16-8) with three goals, but two of those came in the fourth quarter after Belen sat several starters.
MORE RESULTS
BOYS’ REGIONAL SEMIFINALS
▪ Gulliver 13, Miami Country Day 4: Junior Leo Isom had 19 saves to lead the Raiders (17-9) defensively. Harry Sharma, also a junior, had 5 goals, 2 assists, and 2 steals, and junior Daniel Preston posted 3 goals. Sophomore Gabe Lewis-Keister had 1 goal, 3 assists, and 3 steals.
▪ St. Thomas Aquinas 19, Cypress Bay 11: Nicholas Santarsiero led the Raiders (22-4) with six goals while Charles Burnette had four goals. Tony Vlasic had three goals.
GIRLS’ REGIONAL SEMIFINALS
▪ Ransom Everglades 14, MAST Academy 9: The Raiders had better fortunes on the girls’ side on Friday as they took down the visiting Makos at Ransom Everglades.
Three players accounted for all the scoring for the Raiders as Sarah Velazco and Sabrina Shipley each had five goals while Holly Alessandro scored four goals.
Shipley also had three assists while Alessandro had two. Amanda Harris and Eleonora Cavallini each had one assist.
The Raiders (25-4), who last won a state title in 2019 and have won eight overall since the sport was sanctioned by the FHSAA in 2005, will next host longtime rival Gulliver on Tuesday in the regional final round.
▪ Gulliver 11, Miami Country Day 7: Junior Gabriella Montalvo led the Raiders (15-8) with 4 goals, 2 assists, and 1 steal. Junior Giorgia Pascual scored 3 goals, had 1 assist, and 3 steals. Senior Emily Miller had 2 goals, 3 assists, and 3 steals. Leading the Raiders defensively was goalie Sofia Beltran, a sixth-grader, who had 7 saves.
▪ More scores: Boca Raton 14, St. Thomas Aquinas 3; Boca Raton Saint Andrew’s 8, Westminster Academy 6.
This story was originally published April 8, 2022 at 10:38 PM.
