Men's Water Polo returns to the Western State Conference title game on Saturday (2:45) against 2nd-seed LA Valley.  The tournament host and top seed, #3 Cuesta is counting on a little home pool advantage to beat the 4th-ranked Monarchs for a third time this season, while also capturing a third straight WSC crown.  The Cougars have won six of the past 11 WSC titles, however their past two titles, on either side of the pandemic cancelled 2020 season, ended a five-year title run by the Monarchs.  The two teams have dominated the WSC for the past 13 seasons and are well matched this season, with each this season's earlier meetings decided in the final quarter.  Cuesta is currently ranked #3 in the State, after beating #4 LA Valley by two and three goals this season.  In the terms of the State rankings, regardless of tomorrow's outcome, the two foes should earn the #2 and #3 seeds in the CCCAA Regional Playoffs and are favored to meet in next week's regional semi-final.

Cuesta made short work of #4-seed Citrus in today's Western State Conference Semi-Final, despite having to play without injured Goalie Armin Jusztin in the nets.  Freshmen Dante Ianora (pict) and Ethan Blum (pict) stepped up and split the game in the goal, while combining for a dozen saves.  Ianora also scored a couple of goals, when he returned to the field in the second half.  He joined a dozen other teammates in the scorebook, including All-WSC Center Johnny Northcutt, who led all scorers with four goals in the game.   The Cougars are 26-6 on the season and a victory tomorrow would clinch the program's 43rd straight playoff berth.