Malvern Prep water polo team wins Beast of the East title
Malvern Prep won its flight championship with a record of 4-1 at the Beast of the East Water Polo Tournament Sept. 25-26, the largest high school water polo tournament on the East Coast featuring 65 teams at numerous central Pennsylvania locations.
Malvern opened the Sept. 25 portion of the Beast of the East with an overtime loss to Wissahickon High School 6-9 at Reading High School. Isaac Salinas had three goals, Stephen Salle a pair of goals and Zach Maher had a goal and an assist. The Friars quickly rebounded to beat the host team, Reading, 14-4, behind a solid team defensive effort and 16 steals. Maher and Salle had three goals apiece in the win, while Isaac and Aaron Salinas and Adam Yablonski added two goals each.
The Friars continued its stellar team defense Sept. 26 at Central York High School, host of the Flight 3 Beast of the East Tournament championship, as it rolled through to the title. Malvern held Upper Dublin High School to a single goal behind strong goaltending and defense, winning 14-1. Rory Allen and Turner Emery combined for 12 saves. Isaac Salinas had four goals and two assists, Stephen Salle four goals and three assists and Harrison Grant three goals and five steals to lead the Friars’ offense.
In Game 2 Sept. 26, a 13-3 win against Springfield (Montco), Isaac Salinas (five goals) and Stephen Salle (four goals) continued to lead the Friars on offense while Tait McGlinn (two goals, five assists, three steals) and Aaron Salinas (three steals) were the defensive leaders.
In the Championship game the Friars defeated Lawrenceville School (N.J.), 9-1, Sept. 26. Malvern’s defense and solid play in goal were keys to the title win. The Friars’ Rory Allen made 12 saves and had two assists. Aaron Salinas made three steals and blocked a shot. Isaac Salinas had four goals, Salle added three goals and Zach Maher and Tait McGlinn each scored as Malvern improved to 10-2 in non-league action.
