Sharks Win Tri-Valley League Opener

The Sharks opened their league season with a dominating performance against the Carpinteria Warrior’s at the Carpinteria Community Pool in Friday afternoon. 

Despite a loud crowd cheering for the home team, the Warriors were outplayed right from the beginning. The Sharks looked sharp on offense and managed to convert on seven out of ten man advantages. The Sharks looked equally good on defense, often forcing the Warriors into difficult outside shots.

The first quarter started with goals by Emmet Pierson and Jordan Clarke. Henry Buckley took over and scored four straight goals. The Sharks were scoring on man advantages, breakaways and by getting the ball inside. 

The second quarter started with two straight goals by Pierson on man advantage plays and a goal from Arvin Abolfaithi on yet another man advantage play. The score at half time was 9-2 and the rout was on.

Clarke, Pierson and Morgan Hathorn each scored two more in the third quarter and a goal each from Hathorn and Jens Cole in the fourth quarter finished up the game with a 16-6 victory. Goalie Dane Sartorius played the first three quarters and Jack Thompson took over in the fourth quarter.

Despite the large offensive output it was really the defense that seemed to key the Sharks strong play. They recorded a total of 15 steals and the Warriors were often pressed to get off a quality shot on goal.

Stat highlights for the game included Pierson and Buckley with four goals each, Hathorn with three goals, three assists and four steals and Clarke with three goals and three assists. Jens Cole was all over the pool and recorded a season high seven steals, a goal and two assists. Abolfaithi had a goal as well.

As strong as the boy’s varsity team was the JV team may have been stronger against the Carpinteria JV team. 

The score was 4-0 after the first quarter, 8-1 at half time and the Sharks rolled to an easy 15-4 victory. Stat highlights for the game included six goals from Jake Durrant, two goals each from Max Nye and Phillip Campanella, and one goal each from Walker Hannigan, Freddy Keith, Kai Schulz, Brandon Whitaker and Dax Nittolo.

Assistant Coach Steve Goldberg was impressed with the Sharks play. 

“They look great for this early in the year,” he said. “They are really playing well as a team.” 

The Sharks varsity team now has a record of 11 wins and 2 loses and remains ranked third in Division VI. 

Their next game will be their biggest of the young season when they play the Oaks Christian Lions at home on Wednesday afternoon. The Lions are currently ranked first and have played very well so far this year.