Menlo boys’ water polo suffered its first CCS opening-round loss after a 13-11 loss to Valley Christian in double OT on Saturday. It’s the first time since the Open Division started in 2017, Menlo will not be in the Open Division semifinals.

Menlo (18-9) went up 6-1 late in the second quarter and held a 10-6 lead to start the fourth quarter. But ejections caught up to the Knights. Menlo had 14 ejections to Valley Christian’s nine. What hurt the Knights the most is that four of their starting six were majored from the game with three ejections by the fourth quarter, and two of them by half.

“By the middle of the fourth quarter we were playing a freshman who’d seen no varsity time and a goalie in the field,” said Menlo coach Jack Bowen said. “We just couldn’t keep up with Valley Christian’s counter attack at that point.”

Cormac Mulloy anchored the Knight’s defense in goal with 17 saves. In addition he led the team with three assists, along with Jackson Coleman who also had three. Tommy Kiesling not only scored seven goals but also led Menlo in steals with four. Jackson Kay led Menlo with five ejections earned before having to leave the game before halftime with his third ejection.

“This game had everything,” said Bowen following the game. There were a lot of ejections, goalies moving in and out of the goal for both teams, and just a lot energy on the pool deck. I’m really proud of this team and all we accomplished this season.”

CCS Open
at Sacred Heart

Menlo School      1 5 4 1 0  0 - 11
Valley Christian    1 1 4 5 0 2 - 13

Scoring –M: Jackson Kay, Ethan Babel, Tommy Kiesling 7, Jackson Coleman 2
Saves – M: Cormac Mulloy 17, Finn Byrne 1

Menlo record 17-10