The Cubs traveled all the way down to the Woollett Aquatics Center in Irvine to face off against rivals Harvard Westlake. The Cubs look to get revenge in the semi-final of CIF playoffs after falling to the Wolverines in overtime two weeks ago. Before the game, Coach Healy emphasizes two concepts heavily, “No counter goals. No natural goals.” as the two keys to the game. The crowd for the big game looked to favor the schools as the anticipation built, though the Cub fans seemed to be rowdier.

Quarter 1

The Cubs won the sprint to take the first offensive possession of the match. Immediately, Vavic forces a quick exclusion and is the one to convert on the advantage to give the Cubs the first score of the game. On the other end of the pool, the Cubs steal the ball from the Wolverines setting up a post up chance that falls in the hands of the keeper. The Cubs take an exclusion of their own and give up a subsequent goal to tie the game early. Out of the goal, the Cubs look aggressive but can’t capitalize on their two chances on goal. The Cubs take another exclusion and let a weak shot get through to go down a goal halfway through the quarter. Vavic goes in and wins another exclusion, allowing the Cubs to take a shot that flies off the bar. A silly offensive foul forces the Wolverine keeper to take an exclusion, but the Cubs can’t score with the advantage. A strong steal from Vavic gets the Cubs the ball back but the team misses on a lob shot. The Cubs take another exclusion, and the Wolverines show just how sharp they are by converting another goal from 6 on 5. As a response to the bucket, the Cubs run a play that gets Vavic a goal from a strong shot past the keeper. The Cubs come up with a stop and force a quick exclusion to give the Cubs the advantage with thirty seconds left in the quarter. The Cubs come within inches of converting but can’t get the ball quite over the line to end the quarter.

Score 2-3; Scorers: Vavic (2)

Quarter 2

Hale wins the spring for the Cubs convincingly, but the team takes a shot that gets saved. The team get a second chance at goal off the tip and this time the Cubs don’t even get a shot off. The press from the Wolverines forced a turnover, but the Cubs answer with a steal of their own. Reynolds works some magic inside to get the equalizer while surrounded by three opposing defenders. After the goal, the Cubs force a turnover, but give it back immediately, prompting a save from Mueller. Vavic takes a strong shot from the wing, but the Wolverine keeper extends a long arm to protect his goal. The Cubs wind the shot clock all the way down and fail to take a shot. The Cubs suffer an exclusion but Mueller makes his presence felt with a pivotal save. As a recompense, Altmayer sends a shot past the opponent goalie to give the Cubs the lead. A big block by the Cubs gives the team the ball back. On the way back down the pool, the team forces a Harvard Westlake exclusion, precipitating a timeout from Coach Healy. Out of the timeout, the Cubs don’t take advantage of the extra man as the shot they take flies over the bar. A controversial exclusion call gets the Wolverines back in the game as they convert an equalizing skip shot. With a minute and thirty left in the quarter, the Cubs force another save from the keeper but can’t convert on the second chance either. The Wolverines get the ball in the back of the net, giving them the lead with twenty seconds left in the second quarter. A bad pass gives the Wolverines another goal after a terrible call from the ref gives the opposition a shot on an open net.

Score 4-6; Scorers: Reynolds, Altmayer

Quarter 3

The Cubs win the sprint and use their time with the ball to give the ball straight to their opponents. The Cubs steal the ball back and get out quickly to no avail as they fail to register a shot. Mueller makes a nice save to keep the Cubs close, but the Cubs send a weak shot that is easily scooped up by the opposing keeper. The Cubs suffer an exclusion on the other end, instigating a timeout from the Harvard Westlake coach. The Wolverine coach’s message has an immediate effect as the Cubs go down three goals. The Wolverine keeper gets big and prevents a good shot from finding the mark. The Cubs lack any semblance of movement as they take another weak shot at the goal. The Cubs have lost the momentum as they can’t seem to get a sniff of the goal. A turnover by the Wolverines lets the Cubs force an exclusion, but the team still can’t find its mojo as they send the shot wide of the net. Another stop by the Cubs provides another chance that the Cubs squander as numerous defenders are there to deflect the shot on goal.

Score 4-7

Quarter 4

The final sprint goes to the Cubs who look to overcome the three-goal deficit going into the quarter. The Cub offense still looks slow as the shot they produce is easily parried by the Wolverine keeper. The team’s defense manages to produce a turnover, but the shot again flies over the bar. An offensive foul gives the team a chance to score, but the team fails to get a shot off. A big save from Mueller is fruitless as the team fouls with the ball. The Cubs win an exclusion but their shot fails to find the mark as it is inches away from creeping off the bar. An exclusion sees Agliozzo find the net to bring the Cubs within two with as minutes remaining. The Cubs respond after the goal with a Kranz steal to bring the game within one. Hale skips one in to give the Cubs a chance to tie the game up. Mueller makes a clutch save to keep the Wolverines from doubling their lead, though they get a second chance to score. A missed ball under means the ref calls an exclusion against the Cubs who only have a minute and sixteen seconds left to equalize. The Wolverines have been solid with the man advantage, so the defense must come up big for the Cubs to have a chance. The team comes up with the enormous stop with a Mueller save, prompting a timeout from Coach Healy. Fifty-three seconds remain for the Cubs to find the last goal they need to tie the game. Out of the timeout, the Cubs have their shot blocked, but recover the ball to give them a fresh thirty with as many seconds remaining in the game. The Cubs call a timeout to draw up a play for the effort to tie. The team turns the ball over with a mere four seconds left on the clock, giving the ball back to the Wolverines. The team doesn’t turn the ball over as they advance to the finals of CIF, eliminating Loyola from the tournament and ending their season.

Score 6-7; Scorers: Agliozzo, Hale