October 14, 2009 > Water polo teams make waves in MVAL Water polo teams make waves in MVAL By Idorenyin Uto-Uko The weather might be beginning to cool outside, but the water polo teams in the Mission Valley and Hayward Area athletic leagues are heating up the waves inside. The always tough Mission San Jose boys team is the perennial league powerhouse. The Warriors have been ranked as a top-15 North Coast Section team according to most East Bay Area polls. They have lost some key players at shooter and in the hole. They also have had to learn with having a new coach this season but they have beat some quality teams. MSJ still has NCS honorable mention Laura Cann who received the accolade last year as a freshman. But unfortunately for Warrior fans she cannot play on the boys team. Other league teams that have begun to make a ripple in the MVAL standings are Irvington and Washington, and surprisingly to most, James Logan. Washington has a team chemistry and solid play at each position. They beat the more heralded Ygnacio Valley last year in the NCS playoffs, 12-5, with a young team. Tuesday, Oct. 6 Logan 7, Newark Memorial 4 Scorers JL Sean Razavi 5 and Casey Clark 2 NM Tilman, Longarini, Harber and Alcosiba Wasington Girls 15, Irvington 4 Washington Boys 8, Irvington 4 Thursday, Oct. 8 Irvington 12, James Logan 1 Irvington was able to hold a young upstart group of Colts from James Logan nearly scoreless through out four quarters. The Colts have three freshmen, sophomores, juniors and one senior on the varsity roster. "We are young. We know we need to improve. Our goal right now is to learn the fundamentals of the sport. Once we do that the wins will come," said James Logan Head Coach Lance Green. Mission Jose @ Washington Varsity Girls Washington 4, Mission 7 Varsity Boys Washington 13, Mission 6 In addition to league play, Newark Memorial and James Logan boys participated in the Freedom High Tournament on Friday, Oct. 9, and Saturday, Oct. 10 with limited success. Logan won the only game combined in the two teams' weekend at Freedom, 7-2 over Newark Memorial, finishing seventh in the eight-team tourney. Washington and Irvington boys teams both traveled to Amador Valley High for the school's weekend tournament. Both teams had early success, but weren't able to win their final game. Washington lost to Amador Valley in the championship game, 8-3; Irvington dropped the third-place match to Northgate, 11-2.