Teams to beat: Johansen girls, Oakdale boys

Water Polo

By Stu Rosenberg
srosenberg@modbee.com

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The Stanislaus District's top water polo teams will converge this weekend at Johansen High for the opening round of the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Water Polo Championships.

First-round girls action tips Friday with boys beginning Saturday. Friday's matches:

• Johansen's girls (28-3), who completed a perfect 14-0 run through the Modesto Metro Conference last Thursday with a 19-3 win over Modesto that featured eight goals from Brooke Fuller and seven from Taylor Hanson, take on Franklin of Stockton, which finished third in its conference, at 2 p.m.

• Oakdale's girls, who finished second to Johansen in the MMC with a 12-2 record, meet St. Francis of Sacramento, runner-up this season in the Sacramento Valley League, at 9 a.m. The Mustangs concluded regular-season play Thursday with a 12-8 win over Beyer behind Savannah Stender's five goals. Beyer's Ashley Cipponeri also had five goals in the match.

• Modesto (10-4 MMC), led by senior and leading scorer Elie Byrd, squares off against Vintage of Napa at 10 a.m.

• Central California Conference champion Los Banos (12-0), led by junior Jessica Witt and senior Mallory Howard, takes on Tri-City Athletic League runner-up Tokay of Lodi at 11 a.m. Los Banos, which suffered a 6-2 loss to Tokay at the Western States Championships last month, captured the CCC title — capping a worst-to-first turnaround under second-year coach John Wallace — with a 4-3 Senior Night victory over Turlock.

• CCC runner-up Merced, led by Tessa Hanson, plays TCAL champion St. Mary's of Stockton at 3 p.m.

• Turlock, led by top scorer Madeline Keesey and goalie Carlee Sousa, meets Monticello Empire League No. 2 Napa at 1 p.m.

Saturday's boys matches:

• MMC champion Oakdale vs. SVL No. 3 Franklin at 10 a.m. The Mustangs wrapped up an undefeated 14-0 MMC campaign Thursday with an 18-2 win over Beyer that was highlighted Robby Earle, Tyler Lee and Neal Cadra, who scored four goals each, and a 16-save performance from all-district goalie Garrett Porter.

• Johansen, which finished second in the MMC at 12-2, takes on MEL runner-up Napa at 1 p.m. The Vikings concluded league play last Thursday with an 8-4 victory over Modesto that featured six goals from Kyle Sessa.

• MMC No. 3 Downey, led by all-district performer Tim Richard, faces Lodi at 3 p.m.

• CCC champion Golden Valley (12-0), led by top scorer Taylor Rocha, takes on MEL No. 3 Fairfield at 2 p.m.

• Turlock, second in the CCC at 10-2 and anchored by the versatile Taylor Sellers, goes up against TCAL champion St. Mary's at 11 a.m.

• CCC No. 3 Merced, led by Trey Dutcher and Sean Hudgins, battles SVL runner-up Jesuit of Carmichael at 9 a.m.

Quarterfinal and semifinal matches will be Wednesday, Nov. 11 and Friday, Nov. 13 at Tokay High. Finals will be on Saturday, Nov. 14 at Woodcreek High in Roseville.