Boys water polo: Redwood tops MA as teams chart path back to playoffs

Redwood High already looks like it can challenge the elite teams of Northern California, but it’s early in the boys water polo season and head coach Rudy Kardos is looking for more from his team.

The Giants’ starters controlled the first and final periods Tuesday in a 13-7 victory over host Marin Academy in San Rafael. Junior Sawyer Goldberg led Redwood with four goals, while Owen Malone and Finn Barnes each scored twice. William Rauzi, Ryan Voges, Zachary Baumgarten, Andrew Wallace and Jakob Engberg also scored for the Giants.

“We have the highest expectations for ourselves,” Kardos said. “This was the first MCAL game and there’s a lot to work on. But I think we’ll have a good season.”

The Giants set the bar high last season when they advanced to the CIF Northern California Regional playoffs, but lost 10 seniors from that squad to graduation.

“Going into this game against Marin Academy, we knew it was an important test to open the league schedule,” Voges said. “We played aggressively and did a good job. We have things to work on, though. … We’re a young team with not a lot of seniors and there’s a lot to live up to.”

Redwood’s new core of stars is picking up the pieces with a 4-2 start to this season against regional powers. Redwood earlier defeated Menlo and Menlo-Atherton, as well as NorCal D-III champion St. Ignatius in solid non-league efforts. The Giants were valiant in their two losses, with a 14-13 overtime loss to 2022 Central Section finalist Buchanan of Clovis, and an 11-10 loss to San Ramon Valley.

“It’s water polo, it’s not rocket science,” Kardos said. “There’s only so much you can do differently each season.”

Marin Academy (2-3) enters this season with high expectations after placing second to Terra Linda in the NCS D-II finals last season. The Wildcats return with a mostly-intact roster, having lost just three seniors.

“The seniors this year … are playing a lot,” Marin Academy’s new coach Joe Doyle said. “There are a lot of opportunities for our younger players to show their big potential.”

Senior Tucker Byrne led Marin Academy with four goals, while Noah Hirson Michael Yoder and Schuyler Rewick each added a goal.

Baumgarten opened the scoring, followed by a goal from Malone to give Redwood a 2-0 lead. Byrne got the Wildcats on the board before Goldberg gave the Giants a 3-1 lead. Redwood closed out the first period as goalkeeper Rauzi launched the ball the length of the pool for a score at the buzzer.

Redwood rested its starters in the second period, and Marin Academy tried to take advantage with Byrne scoring twice, including a late goal that found its way through traffic to squeeze between the post and the goalkeeper’s outstretched hand to cut Redwood’s lead to 6-3.

Redwood matched Marin Academy goal for goal in the middle two frames, then scored four unanswered goals to open the fourth period for a 12-5 lead.

“We were impatient with our shooting,” Doyle said. “We fell behind, then tried to make up ground in a minute.”