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Waterdawgs get revenge
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When the Ceres High boys water polo team played against Beyer on Oct. 5, the Patriots scored three unanswered goals in the second half en route to a 9-6 victory. Beyer also took Game 1, 14-11, in overtime on Sept. 16.

On Thursday, the Bulldogs and Patriots faced off for the third and final time.

"Everyone did what they were supposed to do," said Ceres High junior Joey Rossi, who helped lead the Bulldogs to a 10-8 victory over the Patriots in Ceres.

Added Ceres coach Sonja Raynes: "We set up plays and game plans for Beyer's personnel. And we executed."

With the win, the Bulldogs moved into a first-place tie atop the Modesto Metro Conference standings with the Patriots.

Ceres improved to 11-2 in the league standings.

Rossi finished with seven goals, three steals and one assist.

Eric Scudder added two goals, two steals and one assist.

Kyle Fliflet scored once.

Mike Polovin dished out five assists.

Jason Weststeyn had one assist and a steal.

Markus Richter had seven steals.

Goalie Justen Harper blocked eight shots.

Beyer failed to score a goal in the first and third quarters.

"Our defense was incredible," Raynes said. "We made a lot of steals and capitalized on what they gave us."

Richter, Scudder, Fliflet and Polovin took turns guarding Roland McDaniel, Beyer's top player. They limited McDaniel to just three goals, including one in the first half.

"He was tired and frustrated," Raynes said.

The Bulldogs outscored the Patriots 3-0 in the first quarter, and led 6-3 at halftime.

They increased their lead to five, 8-3, in the third quarter.

Rossi accounted for seven of Ceres' first eight goals, including three in the first quarter.

"It was a fun game," Rossi said.

McDaniel and Nick Heron scored back-to-back goals to help trim Ceres' lead to two with 56 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

Harper made a save with 12 seconds left in regulation.

Fliflet and Scudder both scored a goal in the final quarter.

"As soon as the fourth quarter started, I knew the game was over," Scudder said.

Scudder and his teammates tossed their coach in the pool after shaking their opponents' hands. They celebrated in the same fashion when they upset Modesto High in Ceres last season.

"From the moment we got in the water, we played strong," Richter said. "This is one of the best games we've ever played."

Ceres 13, Johansen 8

Scudder and Polovin each had five goals in leading the Bulldogs past the Vikings at Johansen High School on Tuesday, Oct. 19.

Ceres swept the season series 3-0.

The Bulldogs edged the Vikings 15-11 in overtime in Modesto on Sept. 14. Ceres routed Johansen 17-9 at Ceres High School on Sept. 30.

Tourney results

The Bulldogs placed 23rd with a 1-4 record at the Delong Memorial Tournament at Stockton's Lincoln High School.

"Our win-loss record wasn't great but we still played well," Raynes said.

Ceres won one of three games on Saturday.

The Bulldogs beat Liberty 17-0. They lost 9-5 to Mitty and 6-5 to Lincoln.

Ceres fell twice on Friday.

Jesuit posted a 9-4 victory over the Bulldogs.

West View won 10-5. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier