Shieler's 5 goals key Porterville upset

For now, the balance of power seems to have shifted within the city for water polo honors as Porterville topped Monache, 8-6, in a stunning victory, Monday night.

The Marauders had the Panthers’ number each time the teams met in 2008, but with a cast of new faces on both sides, Porterville is hoping the baton has passed to the east side of the 65.

“It was pretty obvious that we played as a team and that’s something that’s been lacking in our game lately,” Panthers coach Mickey Goularte said. “It was sort of a must-win for us.”

Entering the first match this season between the rivals, the Marauders were the lone undefeated team in EYL. With the loss and Porterville’s win, the two teams — along with Dinuba — now share the top spot at 5-1 heading into round two on Wednesday.

“They’re a different team from last year,” Monache coach Brandon Weaver said of Porterville. “This team is prepared for league and they’re doing well. I expected a one- or two-point game.”

The Panthers’ Dakota Shieler scored four of his game-high five goals in the second half to lead his squad in a down-to-the-wire showdown. Both teams alternated goals until Shieler’s point-blank shot from the hole was blocked by Evan Thomas early in the fourth period. But Shieler persisted and shoved the loose ball back into the net to put his team up 7-5.

"Dakota’s an amazing athlete,” Weaver said. “He was difficult to stop. I thought he and Luke (Peltzer) played well.”

Peltzer, who scored his lone goal in the second by pumping a fake to get Thomas out of the water and then lobbing it in, stole a long pass from Thomas intended for Colton Conway in the closing moments to seal the win.

Porterville never trailed throughout, but Monache caught up for four ties. Goularte was impressed with his squad’s maturity for not buckling under relentless Marauder rallies.

“I thought that was the key — getting ahead of them and maintaining that step ahead,” he said. “There’s always a point in the game when the other team’s gonna look up and say, ‘Geez, no matter what we do, we can’t seem to make it happen.’ That’s when we have to turn it on.”

A different Marauder scored each of their points in a well-rounded attack. Garret Blocher and Kevin Cosart put up the highlights of the game with Blocher’s no-look wrap-around shot from the hole and Cosart’s score from nearly mid-pool to beat the shot clock.

Justin Tucker, Colton Conway, Matt Lalanne and David Jacobs each added a goal. The Panthers offered little room for Jacobs to operate in the hole.

“They did a good job testing our perimeter and making it harder for us to work the ball in the post,” Weaver said.

Derek Vanderstoel added some extra firepower with two goals for Porterville, which got a solid game from goalie Joey McIntire to compete with 2008 EYL first-teamer Thomas.

“Joey’s got very quick hands. He had some excellent stops,” Goularte said. “He gives us some nice power behind the goal. He blocks the shots he should be blocking. I couldn’t ask more from him. Both goalies were in this game to win.”

Weaver thought Thomas’ performance was one of his best of the season.

“Even in defeat, he was great,” Weaver said. “I thought he was outstanding.”