Shanahan leads Warriors’ 3rd-quarter surge

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MCHENRY – McHenry put together a potent scoring attack in the third quarter and survived the fourth quarter to defeat York, 13-9, in boys water polo Monday.

The Warriors led at halftime, 4-3, but neither team was able to take control during the first two quarters. That changed in the third when McHenry found the net six times, including three consecutive goals by Reilly Shanahan. He led the Warriors with seven goals.

After a goal by Dylan Clohessy to start the fourth quarter, McHenry gave up four consecutive goals to move within two goals of the Dukes at 11-9. With a minute left, Clohessy scored again to end York’s run.

“It took a lot of stress off,” Clohessy said. “They had a lot of momentum.”   

Playing at the McHenry West pool with a shallow and deep end, the Warriors scored nine of their goals while playing offense in deep water.

“We’re so much more comfortable in the deep end,” Shanahan said. “It’s hard to swim [on the shallow side].”

McHenry (9-1) beat York (4-7-1) for the second time this season. The Warriors are ranked ninth, and the Dukes are 25th, according to www.IllPolo.com.

“It feels good to beat them again because they are a good team,” Shanahan said.

McHenry had not seen any game action since March 20 at the Evanston Tournament. Warriors coach Craig Fowles said the break was evident in the team’s play.
“Because I didn’t schedule any games over [spring] break, everyone took vacation,” Fowles said. “We were extremely rusty.”

Phillip Lesniak led McHenry in an important but obscure stat – kickouts drawn. A kickout is when a player commits a foul and has to sit out, giving the opposing team a man advantage. Lesniak drew seven kickouts and said the trick to playing good defense is to keep your distance.

“Just keep your separation – don’t let the guy grab you,” Lesniak said.

McHenry was up at the half thanks in part to the goalie play of Dan Brucki, who stopped 12 shots. Brucki made four saves on point-blank shots in the second quarter while in the deep-end goal.

Alex Birkle played the third quarter in the shallow end and stopped four shots.

Fowles said he put Birkle in because moving between the shallow and deep end could be difficult for a goalie.

“It gives your deep end passes a little different feel,” Fowles said. “If we have problems transitioning we do that a lot.”

Tim Briscoe scored twice for the Warriors and Lesniak and Matt Feltes each added a goal.