St. Andrew's boys, girls each advance

Friday, May 01, 2009
by Colin Brady

The St. Andrew's boys and girls water polo teams each defeated Fort Lauderdale-St. Thomas Aquinas Friday to earn berths in today's state semifinals.

The St. Andrew's boys routed the Raiders 20-2 and play Winter Park today, with the Scots hoping to avenge a loss to the Wildcats in last year's semifinals. The winner of the match will face the winner of the other semifinal between Hialeah and Miami-Belen Jesuit at 6 tonight in the state final.

St. Andrew's jumped on Aquinas with five quick goals in the first quarter, two each from Mario Cardenas and Rafi Castillo along with a back-breaking goal by Greg Norton with one second remaining in the period.

"We wanted to send them a message and let them know we're here," Castillo said.

Cardenas scored five goals to raise his season total 86.

"I try new things every game to get my teammates involved and get open," Cardenas said.

Goalkeeper Scott Weigel shut out Aquinas through three quarters before being replaced in the fourth quarter.

"Some teams will put a kid that can't swim too fast in the goal," St. Andrew's coach Ziggy Bogdan said, "but Scott is one of our most talented kids in the pool along with Mario."

The St. Andrew's girls also will face Winter Park in today's semifinals after edging Aquinas 9-8. Goalie Hannah Metzger had three key saves in the final two minutes to help the Scots survive.

Senior Caroline Young picked up three of her six goals in the fourth quarter, which the Scots entered trailing 6-5.

"Caroline really managed to step up her game," St. Andrew's coach Adam Gaffey said. "She wasn't going to let St. Andrew's lose today."

If St. Andrew's beats Winter Park, it will face the winner of the match between Hialeah and Miami-Ransom Everglades in the state final at 4 p.m. today.