MENLO, Calif. – One of the longest and most thrilling championship showdowns in the 26-year history of the Scott Roche Invitational boys water polo tournament was inches away from being decided in regulation, setting the stage for an even more dramatic sudden-death victory Saturday at Gates Pool.
Ossie Joplin scored the golden goal nearly 90 seconds into the extra period, lifting Larkspur Redwood to its first Roche Invitational title in program history with an 11-10 overtime triumph against tournament host Menlo School.
Joplin, who misfired on the potential winning score earlier in overtime, received a long outlet pass from Redwood goalkeeper Owen Malone, gathered the ball in set and spun on Menlo’s Lucas Capasso, before placing his shot inside the right post to help the Giants (4-0) secure back-to-back one-goal victories Saturday to secure the crown.
Redwood knocked off La Jolla by a 16-15 margin in the semifinals, which followed convincing victories Friday against Clovis North and last year’s tournament champion Davis Senior.
Jack Bowen and Redwood water polo.
Menlo (4-3) was making its first appearance in the Roche Invitational final since a 15-10 setback in 2022 to La Jolla. The Knights were seeking their first championship since winning four in a row from 2016-19.
Menlo began its week with a 15-13 overtime victory Sept. 2 against Los Gatos, and had two
opportunities in the extra period of the championship match to triumph again, but had one attempt hi the right post and another shot stopped by Malone.
But the Knights could only be left to wonder what might have been on their final possession of regulation when a shot taken by Jackson Coleman from near mid-pool hit the crossbar in the upper right corner and landed just inside the post, but according to the nearest official, the ball didn’t break the plane of the goal, resulting in a 10-10 tie entering overtime.
Menlo, which surrendered the first two goals of the final and never led during the first 26 minutes, grabbed its lone advantage at 10-9 in the championship when Calvin Barad scored with 1:25 left.
Alex Stoffel converted a 6-on-5 goal with 2:44 remaining to tie it at 9-9 for the Knights.
Redwood capitalized on a two-man advantage with 10 seconds left in regulation when Sawyer Goldberg scored on a cross-pool pass from Maddox McClellan to pull the Giants even at 10-10, before the frenzied final moments, including Coleman’s potential heroics coming up just short.
Joplin had six goals, Goldberg contributed three goals and Malone recorded nine saves for Redwood, which led 7-6 entering the fourth quarter.
Stoffel led Menlo with three goals against the Giants, with freshman Adam Afar and Barad each scoring twice for the Knights, who received eight saves from Connor Burks.
Menlo prevailed by a 13-6 margin against Rio Americano in the semifinals after holding on for a 12-11 victory Friday against Buchanan.
Afar had four goals, four assists and three steals, with Barad adding three goals and Burks collecting 12 saves against Rio Americano for the Knights, who opened the tournament with an 18-9 win against Burlingame.
Rio Americano (5-1) rebounded with a 12-10 triumph against La Jolla – winner of the 2021 and 2022 tournament titles – in the third-place match, highlighted by four goals each from Jackson Jeske and Lucas Ruano.
San Ramon Valley (3-2) bounced back from a 17-9 loss Friday to Rio Americano to capture fifth place Saturday with a 12-10 win against St. Ignatius.
Buchanan (2-3), which endured a 12-8 setback Saturday to San Ramon Valley, prevailed in the seventh-place contest by a 14-13 margin against Davis Senior.