In  a match-up between NorCal preseason top-8 teams, the Menlo boys’ water polo team launched a furious second-half rally in a 14-13 loss to visiting Miramonte on Tuesday,  

Both schools each also are among top 20 teams in the State. Miramonte took an early lead, up 11-3 at one point late in the second quarter. From there, Menlo went on a 10-2 run, tying the game at 13-13 with a minute remaining, before Miramonte scored a final goal to win.

In the second half, junior goalie Cormac Mulloy (five saves) held Miramonte to just three goals. Three Menlo players picked up a hat trick–senior co-captains Tommy Kiesling, Jackson Kay, and sophomore lefty Jackson Coleman–while Kay led the game with five ejections earned. Kiesling had four ejections earned, and senior Ethan Babel led the team with three assists. Defensively, junior Teddy Meeks led Menlo with four steals.

“As much as I like to win,” Menlo Coach Jack Bowen said. “I see this game as a huge success. We made a lot of errors early on and, frankly, a lot of teams would have given up down 10-2 to a team like Miramonte. But we made some changes and trusted in each other and showed a lot of character coming back like that. This game is going to serve as a touchpoint for us throughout this entire season. I love the resiliency of this team.”

With the loss, Miramonte evens the record with Menlo through Bowen’s 25 years at Menlo, evening the all time records at 6-6.

Thursday, Menlo hosts Skyline, the top team from Utah, playing their first non-California team. Then, on Saturday, they host East Bay powerhouse Acalanes.