Pali High Water Polo Sixth at Conejo Classic

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Palisades High has ruled the City in boys water polo the last four years, but last weekend’s Conejo Classic in Ventura County gave the Dolphins a chance to test themselves versus some of the top  schools in the Southern Section.   

Palisades proved it belonged,  finishing 3-2 to take sixth place  Saturday after winning its bracket with two impressive wins Friday.

Gabby Feizbakhsh and Isai Quinn Godfredsen each scored three goals, Isai Elias had two goals, Theo Trask had one goal and seven steals, Maximo Speiser, Zeke Ramirez, Oliver Grant, Lucas Silva and Brandon Epp each added a goal and Epp made 15 saves to get Palisades off to a fast start with a 14-7 triumph over Oxnard Rio Mesa.

The second game pitted Palisades against Moorpark and the Dolphins prevailed 15-12 on the strength of seven goals and seven steals by Godfredsen and 14 combined saves by  goalies Epp and Michail Melnik. Feizbakhsh had three goals and three steals, Silva had two goals and Trask, Zach Wunder and Orson Spence each added one.

“Beating Moorpark was huge because it’s a very good Division 2 team and we had six different guys score goals,” Pali High assistant coach Kirk Lazaruk said.  “We were 7-for-8 on kickouts and our defensive strategies are better. We’re a lot grittier than last year.”

Melnik had 14 saves, Wunder scored twice and Grant scored once in Saturday’s early game, a 13-3 loss to Crescenta Valley. However, the Dolphins bounced back in the afternoon with a hardfought 12-9 win against Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.

Epp made 18 saves and Feizbakhsh  scored five goals, including two in the last three minutes to clinch victory. Godfredsen scored three goals and Silva added two, the second putting the Dolphins ahead 10-9 lead with 4:07 left in the fourth quarter.

Elias added one goal and three steals and Wunder also scored. The victory set up a rematch 90 minutes later versus Moorpark. This time, the Musketeers came out on top, 12-7, to take fifth place at Thousand Oaks High.

Epp made eight saves, Melnik had five and Elias had four steals. Feizbakhsh again led the Dolphins in scoring with three goals and one assist. Silva, Ramirez, Wunder and Trask each added a goal for the Dolphins, who were exhausted after their third game of the day and fifth in two days.

“Fatigue was a huge factor in the last game but at full strength [yesterday] we beat them,” said Feizbakhsh, playing his first tournament in over a year. “This team is beyond my expectations. We have fun together outside of the pool and that makes us more cohesive in the water. Coach [Adam] Blakis  has adjusted to what we have. Lucas and I can go into the hole and score, but we’ve worked on our driving and passing and everyone can score on this team.”

Palisades’ JV went 2-2 and also finished sixth, beating Granada Hills and Notre Dame.

The Dolphins are back in the pool today through Saturday at the Malibu tournament.