Fourth quarter lull hurts Calaveras against Union Mine

Heading into the final seven minutes of play, the Calaveras High School boys’ water polo team had an 8-6 lead over the Union Mine Diamondbacks. The Red Hawks hadn’t trailed the entire game and were close to capturing their first win of the season.

After holding onto the lead for the first three quarters, Calaveras wasn’t able to preserve its advantage on the scoreboard. The Red Hawks got outscored 6-0 in the fourth quarter and suffered a 12-8 loss to Union Mine on Thursday afternoon in El Dorado.

“It was a tough loss,” Calaveras head coach Don Couch said. “We led most of the game, but a couple of missteps cost us.”

Calaveras jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first quarter with goals from senior Corbin Curran and junior Matthew Padula. The Red Hawks scored four times in the second quarter and Curran led the way with two goals, while Padula and senior Scott Beadles each scored once. At the midway point, Calaveras led 6-4. Both teams scored twice in the third quarter and Calaveras got goals from Padula and Curran. The Red Hawks were held scoreless in the final seven minutes and were handed a four-goal loss.

Curran led Calaveras with four goals, while Padula scored three and Beadles added one. The loss drops Calaveras to 0-2 in the Mother Lode League standings.

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Calaveras at Union Mine
Union Mine 12, Calaveras 8

Cal – 2, 4, 2, 0 – 8
UM – 0, 4, 2, 6 – 12

Calaveras Individual Statistics
Goals – Curran, 4; Padula, 3; Beadles, 1

Calaveras Season Statistics
Goals – Padula, 12; Curran, 9; Buchmann, 1; Beadles, 2; Morrill, 1

Calaveras Boys’ Water Polo 2023
Sept. 5 vs. Bret Harte (L) 22-17
Sept. 7 at Union Mine (L) 12-8
Sept. 12 at Amador, 5 p.m.
Sept. 14 vs. El Dorado, 5 p.m.
Sept. 21 at Bret Harte, 6 p.m.
Sept. 26 vs. Union Mine, 5 p.m.
Sept. 28 vs. Amador, 5 p.m.
Oct. 3 at El Dorado
Oct. 10 vs. Bret Harte, 5 p.m.
Oct. 12 vs. at Union Mine
Oct 17 at Amador, 5 p.m.
Oct. 19 vs. El Dorado, 5 p.m.

Mother Lode League Standings
Bret Harte 1-0
El Dorado 1-0
Union Mine 1-0
Amador 0-1
Calaveras 0-2