MORGAN HILL -- The Sobrato boy's water polo team commanded the entire first half Tuesday against Piedmont Hills, but was in a whole new game heading into the final seven minutes.
The visiting Pirates netted two goals in the third quarter at Sobrato High School and, if not for a last-minute score by Bulldogs utility man Robert Foo, would have led 4-3 at the start of the fourth. Knowing something had to be done, Sobrato coach Paul Harris gathered his players for a quick pep talk during intermission. The meeting was brief.
"I told them to start shooting more," he said. "That was working for us in the first half. Then we slowed down, and (Piedmont Hills) came back. We needed to shoot more."
Less than a minute into the fourth quarter, victory was resealed. Foo completed a hat trick with the go-ahead score, teammates Marc Barrats and Jared Mammen added late goals, and the Bulldogs pulled away to a 7-5 victory in Blossom Valley Athletic League play.
Sobrato improved to 2-0 in the Santa Teresa Division standings.
"It's a great win -- it's one we needed to have," Harris said. "It's a confidence boost for our guys. They're still growing together."
The Bulldogs held a 26-15 edge in shots with Mammen totaling a team-high eight, plus an assist.
Mammen put Sobrato ahead on his team's first shot of the game, lacing the ball past goalkeeper Sean Tang less than a minute into the opening period. Foo, who added two assists to his goal count, found the net 2 1/2 minutes later on a rebound shot from 10 meters out, giving Sobrato a quick 2-0 lead.
"The guys were moving the ball well in the first half," Harris said. "Once our shots stopped hitting the posts, I knew we were going to score some goals."
The Pirates (0-3 BVAL) split the deficit late the first quarter with Ryan Vincent's goal on a 5-meter penalty shot -- the first of three tallies for Vincent. Piedmont Hills' Aaron Wang tied the game midway through the second period, scoring off a turnover deep in Bulldogs territory.
Ammon Suzuki drew twine off a feed from Foo with 2:44 remaining, and Sobrato went into the half leading 3-2.
Vincent and Wang struck again early in the third quarter, scoring goals on back-to-back shots to put the Pirates in front 4-3. With Piedmont Hills down a man late in the period because of a penalty, the Bulldogs pulled even on Foo's second goal -- a close-range score off a pass from Suzuki.
"We responded well," Harris said. "Robert had a great game for us."
Sobrato exploded for three goals in the fourth quarter while limiting the Pirates to two shots.
The Bulldogs went back in front when Foo gathered a pass from Mammen and skipped a shot into the cage with 6:01 remaining. They pushed ahead 6-4 with a Foo-assisted score by Barrats. Mammen tallied Sobrato's final goal with 1:42 left, and Vincent answered with his third goal less than a minute later.
Tang ended with 14 saves, and Sam Paveza had three for the Bulldogs, who host Mount Pleasant at 5 p.m. Thursday.
In girl's action Tuesday at Sobrato High School, the Lady Bulldogs fell to 1-1 in league with a 9-4 loss to undefeated Mount Pleasant (3-0).
Sobrato got a pair of goals by Jackie Whistler and one apiece by Melanie Jasper and freshman Nika Burnett.
"This was a good test for the girls," Harris said. "They went up against the best team in league today. They're learning to see the entire pool."
The Cardinals led 5-0 at the half and made it a six-goal lead in the third quarter before Whistler scored with 4:27 remaining. Jasper cut the deficit to four with a tally three minutes later, but Mount Pleasant answered with a trio of goals in the final period.
Burnett's score came with 35 seconds left in regulation.
The Sobrato girl's team hosts Evergreen Valley at 3 p.m. Thursday, also in Santa Teresa Division play.
Scott J. Adams Scott J. Adams covers Morgan Hill sports for South Valley Newspapers. Send him an email or call him at 779-4106.
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