Hornets Finish 2nd at Auburn Tournament

The Enumclaw High School Boys Water Polo Team finished second at the Auburn Water Polo Tournament, held September 24 and 25 at Auburn High School. The Hornets won their first four games, to advance to the championship game, but lost the title game to Auburn, 6-5.

Enumclaw won both of their Friday games, beating Auburn Mountainview 8-5 and Emerald Ridge 14-4.

Saturday's action had the Hornets squaring off with Auburn Riverside in an 8:45 game. The Hornet defense took control, and held Riverside scoreless for three and one-half periods, until the Ravens scored their lone goal with 3:18 left in the game. On offense, Travis Culp scored two, and Garrett Hall, Bennon VanHoof, and Gabe Sales each scored a goal for the Hornets.

In their second game on Saturday, Enumclaw faced Rogers, who had beaten the Hornets earlier in the season. Enumclaw got their revenge, beating the Rams 7-5 in the rematch. Scoring for Enumclaw were VanHoof, with four goals, and Travis Culp with three.

The Hornets then faced Auburn in Saturday's Championship Game at 4:15. Both teams were undefeated in the tournament.

The Hornets scored first, on a goal by Hall 45 seconds into the game, but Auburn tied it up 49 seconds later. Hall scored again later in the period, after an Auburn exclusion foul, but Auburn tied it again with 45 seconds left in the opening quarter.

Enumclaw took the lead in the second period, with goals by Thomas Petersen, VanHoof, and Hall, and held the Trojans to a single goal, to take a 5-3 advantage into halftime. Auburn rallied in the third quarter, scoring two goals, to tie the game at five, and shut out the Hornets for the rest of the game, to take the 6-5 win.

Hornets scoring in the Championship Game were Garrett Hall with three goals, and Thomas Petersen and Bennon VanHoof with one goal each.

The tournament had teams from nine schools, including Auburn, Auburn Mountainview, Auburn Riverside, Enumclaw, Emerald Ridge, Kentridge, Lakes, Peninsula, and Rogers.

Auburn High School won the Championship, with Enumclaw claiming second. Finishing third was Rogers. Auburn Mountainview finished fourth, and Lakes finished in fifth place.

The Hornets return to league play on Tuesday, with a home game against Stadium High School, and return to Auburn for a league game against the Trojans on Thursday. The Hornet JV finish the week with a JV tournament at Auburn High School.