VIDEO: Despite Sectional Loss, Future Looks Bright for Water Polo Team

The Highland Park/Deerfield coop boys water polo team lost to Lake Forest 12-10 in the first round of the Vernon Hills Sectional Tuesday night.  The loss brought the Giant/Warriors season to an end, but it's definitely a season they can look back on with pride.

"This team, we battled to the end," senior Notie Moyer said.  "We come back and make teams scared of us when they're winning and then they end up losing by two goals.  We just have a lot of heart.  This team doesn't lay down."

Lake Forest took a 6-3 lead into halftime, but the Giant/Warriors quickly tied the game in the third quarter, as three different players scored in under three minutes.  HP/Deerfield trailed 8-7 after three quarters, but Lake Forest outscored them 4-3 in the final seven minutes to secure the 12-10 win.

HP/Deerfield (13-11, 4-2) finished in third place in the regular season Central Suburban League standings, their best finish in the program's history.  They also won their own invite early in the season and finished in fourth place in the CSL post season tournament.

"My feshman year, I played a little bit of varsity and I did not ever think that we would get up to this level by my junior year," junior Garrett Lessem said.

Senior is one of 10 seniors that will graduate from the team this year. He led the Giant/Warrior attack, racking up six goals.  Three of those goals came in the final two minutes, as the Warriors desperately tried to erase a five goal deficit.  Lessem added two goals, while Tim Letten and Kevin Donovan each chipped in one goal.

Lake Forest was led by sophomore John Baker.  He scored three of his five goals in the fourth quarter to help the Scouts build an 11-7 lead late in the game.  Lake Forest will move on to play top seeded Palatine.

For more Highland Park/Deerfield's continued improvement and outlook on the future, click on the video link above.

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