Royal boys' water polo team zapped by Chargers

Photos by JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers THRILLER IN SIMI—Royal High's Lawrence Bardelli, above, shoots and scores during Wednesday's match vs. Agoura while goalkeeper Brett DeLang, below, blocks a shot later in the contest.

On Wednesday, in the first of two Marmonte League meetings this season between Royal and Agoura high schools in boys' water polo, the Chargers defeated the Highlanders 1110 in suddendeath overtime at Agoura.

AHS senior David Sparks scored the game-winning goal.

Agoura, which won a league title and a CIF-Southern Section Division IV championship last season, improved to 3-0 in the Marmonte. The Highlanders fell to 3-1 in league.

"We snatched defeat from the jaws of victory," Royal head coach Steve Snyder said.

"Agoura had a very good game plan, and it exposed more of our defensive weaknesses. We didn't shoot the ball well, either. I felt we were the better team, but we didn't execute as well as Agoura."

—Thomas Gase