Newcomers learning about varsity water polo

Fallbrook High School's varsity boys water polo team has 19 players, but 13 of those are on the varsity for the first time this year.

"We're learning who we are," said Fallbrook coach Bill Richardson. "We definitely have a long ways to go."

Last year Fallbrook finished with a 17-14 record including a quarterfinal win and a semifinal loss in the CIF Division I playoffs and victories in all five Valley League games to give the Warriors their second consecutive league championship. Six Fallbrook players earned all-league recognition for 2015, but four of those were seniors and only six of last year's players return to the 2016 squad.

Seven members of this year's varsity roster are seniors, but not all have varsity experience. "We had a lot of juniors on JV last year," Richardson said.

Another difference from last year is that the Poway Invitational tournament, which traditionally opened the Warriors' season, has been replaced by the Rancho Bernardo Invite. The tournament is now hosted by Rancho Bernardo High School, which was the site of Fallbrook's two Sept. 1 matches to open tournament and season play.

Fallbrook began this year's tournament with a 13-7 victory over Mater Dei. "It's nice to win your first game, and it's also nice to open a tournament with a win," said Richardson.

The halftime buzzer sounded when Fallbrook was ahead by a 10-5 margin.

"We always had a decent lead, but they hung around," Richardson said. "It was closer than it needed to be, I suppose. They had one really, really good player who kept them close."

That Mater Dei player scored six of the Crusaders' seven goals. Declan Harrison scored six of Fallbrook's goals and Tanner Curnow placed four shots into the net.

The other Sept. 1 game involving Fallbrook was a 9-5 Rancho Bernardo victory at the Warriors' expense. Fallbrook's five goals were among a total of 15 shots the Warriors took.

"We didn't shoot particularly well," said Richardson. "At this point in the season Rancho Bernardo is playing better as a team than we are."

Fallbrook returned to the Rancho Bernardo pool for a Sept. 2 match against Canyon Crest. The Ravens obtained a 10-8 triumph after having leads of 4-2 at the end of the first period, 7-4 during halftime, and 10-5 when the third quarter concluded.

The Warriors traveled to The Bishop's School for two Sept. 3 games. The first was an 8-6 victory over Del Norte. Harrison scored four goals, Curnow added two scores, and Warrior goalkeepers Matthew Araiza and Jacob Cain each made two saves. Fallbrook concluded tournament play with a 2-3 record as the result of an 11-5 loss to Grossmont in the second Sept. 3 contest.

The Warriors' record fell to 2-4 with a 12-8 loss Sept. 7 at Westview.

"We have some talented players," Richardson said. "We're in position to win every game."

Being competitive with opponents provides Richardson with hope, but the most important element is being ahead after 28 minutes of play or after overtime play if necessary.

"A lot of it comes down to finishing," said Richardson. "Hopefully that will come."