Menlo News August 30, 2023

Boys’ water polo tops Campo, narrowly loses to Redwood

Knights win on last-seconds shot and save

9.2.2023 – Menlo played host to another 2022 NCS Open Division team as they look to head into league play next week. Down 4-8 midway through the 3rd quarter, Menlo fought back to within one and were stopped by Redwood defense on a last-second shot.

Sophomore Alex Stoffel led all scorers with 4 goals and has asserted himself as Menlo’s leading scorer thus far in their 2-game season, with a total of 9 goals. Teddy Meeks earned 3 ejections and Meeks and Jackson Coleman each had 2 assists.

Senior goalie Cormac Mulloy was once again stellar in goal, tallying 10 saves in three quarters as well as a team-high 5 steals.

“We’ve sought out some of the toughest non-league competitors we could early in the season,” Coach Jack Bowen said. “Our objective is to be the best teams we can be and playing teams like Redwood and Campolindo help us achieve this. We know what we need to work on as we head into league play Wednesday.”

Menlo starts WCAL play Wednesday as they travel to Archbishop Mitty. Next weekend, Menlo hosts the 25th Annual Scott Roche Invitational.

Menlo 14, Campolindo 13

8.30.2023 – Menlo School boys’ water polo climbed back from a three-goal deficit in the third quarter to beat visiting Campolindo on a last-minute shot and save for a 14-13 win Wednesday.

In the season opener, senior co-captain Teddy Meeks led Menlo with 11 ejections earned, while sophomore Alex Stoffel and senior Nic Ekstrand led Menlo in assists with three each.

The teams tied three times in the final quarter before Ekstrand fired a shot into the net with :44 left. Goalie Cormac Mulloy stopped a final shot - his 14th of the night - for the win.

“What I saw out there tonight was a team who plays with a lot of heart,” Menlo Coach Jack Bowen said. When we fell behind by three in the second quarter and then bounced back to tie it at 10 in the third quarter, I could tell this is just a special group, a group of guys who trust each other and have each other’s backs.”

He also saw what he believes is a first in his nearly quarter-century of coaching ” I don’t think I remember a player ever earning more than 10 ejections in a single game like Teddy did tonight,” Bowen said, “Not to mention the solid leadership and goalie play we had from our other co-captain, Cormac Mulloy. Just a great start to the season in pursuit of our team’s goal, ‘Be your best.’”

With the win, Menlo improves to 9-6 all-time against East Bay power Campolindo. The teams met last year in the North South Tournament’s final round and the Knights brought home an 8-5 win. Menlo hosts another East Bay powerhouse, Redwood High School on Saturday at noon.