WATER POLO ROUNDUP : Capistrano Valley Ends El Toro’s Water Polo Streak

Capistrano Valley’s Jeff Moloughney did something no other team has been able to do this year: Stop El Toro’s two-season, 24-match water polo winning streak.

Moloughney’s goal in the final 54 seconds of the match helped No. 2 Capistrano Valley defeat the county’s top-ranked team, 13-12, for the championship of the North Orange County Tournament Saturday at Fullerton’s Independence Park pool.

The goal, which gave the Cougars a 13-11 lead, was set up by Dan Batten’s steal with 1:05 remaining.

Earlier this year, Capistrano Valley (20-1) lost to El Toro, 11-6, in the title match of the Villa Park Tournament. The teams will meet again Thursday in a South Coast League match.

“I think it’s about time (we lost),” El Toro Coach Don Stoll said. “We can’t continue to play the caliber of teams we have played this season and win.

“We just didn’t have enough poop at the end.”

El Toro (19-1) advanced to the championship by defeating Harvard Westlake, 11-10. Harvard Westlake (20-2) is ranked third in the Southern Section Division I, behind El Toro and Capistrano Valley.

Capistrano Valley advanced to the final with a 10-7 victory over Corona del Mar.

“Winning or losing a tournament means nothing,” Stoll said. “We have to play Capistrano Valley again and it will be the same thing: a war.”

Said Capistrano Valley Coach Don Cholodenko: “Truthfully, I was very content to be in the championship game. Winning this game gives us confidence and that’s what’s important because you never know when you’ll get another win against El Toro.”

Late in the fourth quarter, El Toro tied the score at 11-11 when Daniel Julson scored on an unprotected goal.

Capistrano Valley took a 12-11 lead on Jeremy Braxton-Brown’s goal with 3:09 left. Braxton-Brown led the Cougars’ scoring with four goals.

In the final 13 seconds, Julson stole the ball for El Toro that set up Daniel Mathot’s final goal. Mathot had three goals and teammate Brandon Stout had four.