Bennett’s Last-Minute Goal Punches Out La Serna, 14-13

LA CRESCENTA — The goals kept coming in bunches during a battle of Southern Section Division III water polo powers Tuesday, but in the end Crescenta Valley High’s bunch was bigger.

The Falcons, the division’s third-ranked team, held off a late flurry by La Serna to win the nonleague match, 14-13.

Jon Conrad scored five goals and Jayson Payne added four for Crescenta Valley. Joey Bennett scored three, including the game winner.

With less than a minute to play and the score tied, 13-13, Neil Reynolds took a shot that was deflected into the water by Lancer goalie Dave Torres. The ball floated in front of the goal for a second until Bennett punched the ball past Torres.

Crescenta Valley’s Andy Cushman, who alternated in the goal with Brian Hasbrouck, made two stops in the final minute to preserve the victory. Cushman, who played in the second and fourth quarters, had five saves. Hasbrouck had six.

The Falcons (7-1) had taken a 13-10 lead after Bennett scored with 5 minutes 15 seconds remaining. But the fourth-ranked Lancers (5-3) scored three times in 80 seconds to tie the score. The spurt marked the fourth time La Serna scored two or more goals in a two-minute span.