OCC Beats Riverside on Pratt’s Goal in Overtime

Orange Coast’s Jeff Pratt scored the winning goal with 42 seconds left in overtime as the Pirates defeated Riverside, 7-6, in the title game of the Orange Empire Conference men’s water polo tournament Saturday.

Orange Coast took a 6-5 lead 12 seconds into the fourth quarter on a goal by Jeff Smalley.

Riverside’s Tommy Merryman scored 36 seconds later to tie the score, 6-6.

Pratt, Smalley and Scott Butler each scored two goals for Orange Coast (23-6-2). Second-place Riverside is 20-11-2.

In the third-place game:

Saddleback 22, Cypress 15--Jonny Geiger scored five goals for Saddleback, which led, 12-2, at the half. Saddleback is 12-15-1. Cypress is 10-19.

In the South Coast Conference men’s tournament:

Golden West 10, Fullerton 1--Peter Valovic had three goals for host Golden West (26-1-1), ranked second in the state. Teammates Nenad Propowski, Logan Shaw and Brian Murphy each scored two goals.

In the Orange Empire Conference women’s tournament:

Riverside 3, Orange Coast 1--Riverside (28-4-1), ranked third in the state, upset second-ranked Orange Coast (21-6).

Riverside scored first, on a third-quarter goal by Lisa Moreno. Devorie Witt and Lisa Weise scored in the fourth quarter to give the Tigers a 3-0 lead. Nerissa Reidenbaugh scored for Orange Coast in the fourth quarter.

In the third-place game:

Saddleback 8, Cypress 3--Saddleback (17-10) led at halftime, 5-0. Kinder Powers and Kristin Miller each scored three goals for the Gauchos. Cypress is 10-12.

In the South Coast Conference women’s tournament:

Golden West 9, Mt. San Antonio 2--Two-time defending state champion Golden West (27-2-1) won the title game after leading, 7-1, at the half.

Kim Steele led the Rustlers with three goals and goalie Stephanie Lombardo had seven saves.