WATER POLO TEAM PLACES SECOND IN EASTERNS

Nov. 4, 2007

A number of seniors played a pivotal role in their final tournament when St. Benedict’s placed second as the host school Sunday in Eastern B Water Polo Championships.

Angel Maldonado, the senior scoring sensation, capped his season with a huge effort, especially in an 11-9 verdict over LaSalle in the second game of the tournament. Maldonado scored all but two of his team’s goals in an 11-9 victory.

Senior goalies Kevin Hall and Joel Nunez combined to stop 14 shots in the game and helped the Gray Bees avenge a 17-10 setback to the school from Philadelphia earlier this year.

That victory followed a 15-5 triumph over the Landon School of Bethesda, Md. Senior Michael Morrison led the way with six goals in the morning match.

St. Benedict’s, however, ran out of steam in the late afternoon finale, suffering its third loss of the season to tournament champion Pingry, 8-4. Hall notched six more saves during the outing to bring his tournament total to 18, while Maldonado produced a hat trick.

Maldonado, Hall and Nunez were each named to the Al-Tournament team as St. Benedict’s wrapped up the season with a 6-15-1 record.

--By Ron Jandoli

FANTASTIC FINISH!!!

October 9, 2007

The St. Benedict’s water polo team capped its play in the Wilton Tournament with a scintillating finish this past weekend in Connecticut.

The Gray Bees scored three goals over the final 64 seconds, including the game-winner from senior Achille Dossekou with 1.5 seconds left, to pull off an improbable, 14-13, victory over Gonzaga of Washington, D.C.

Dossekou’s game-winner came after a steal with 20 seconds left. Angel Maldonado had squared the match at 13-13 with 33 seconds remaining following an earlier theft.

St. Benedict’s, which trailed by as many as five goals early in the contest, started its three-goal barrage to close out the game following a timeout with 1:07 left. Freshman Giovanni Urquilla, who had scored his first varsity goal earlier in the game, scored three seconds after coming out of the stoppage to close the gap to, 13-12.

Maldonado finished the game with six goals, while Michael Morrison chipped in with three. Goalie Kevin Hall turned aside 10 shots against Gonzaga.

St. Benedict’s wound up 1-2 in the tournament at the Wilton YMCA. It suffered a 14-4 setback to the host club before falling, 14-3, to the Greenwich (Conn.) High School B team. Spencer Vespole was named to the All-Tournament team for his outstanding defensive play throughout the weekend.

--By Ron Jandoli