Boys water polo: Piecuch scores 6 goals, leads Palatine past Barrington
Palatine’s Brodie Piecuch may have set up the Pirates for another MSL West title.
Piecuch, who plays set, scored a career-best six goals Wednesday as Palatine knocked off host Barrington 12-8. Palatine (7-1, 2-0) now has wins over Barrington and Schaumburg in West play.
“We are hungry and hopeful again this year,” said Palatine coach Joe Grzybek, whose team has won the MSL West and the MSL title game the last three seasons.
“Our focus is always conference games first.”
Both teams traded goals in the first period which ended with a 3-3 tie. Palatine then ran off three consecutive goals as Piecuch, Colten Hilgers and Nick Jelonkiewicz each tallied as the Pirates pulled ahead 6-3.
Barrington (5-3, 3-1) then worked its way back into the game. Alex Scott scored just before the end of the half and Matt Bucaro scored early into the second half as the Broncos closed to 6-5.
Palatine again rattled off three consecutive goals. Piecuch scored twice, sandwiching a tally by Jelonkiewicz as the Pirates opened up a 9-5 lead.
Barrington would score two straight goals as Matt Bucaro scored on a penalty shot and his brother Luke scored early in the fourth quarter to make it 9-7. But Pirate goals by Max Casaccio and Piecuch put the game away.
“The scoring opportunities just come with the practice,” said Piecuch, who is a senior. “The half court stuff that we do. The scrimmaging, practicing and playing. That is what helps us a lot.”
Grzybek said the Pirates’ ability to get the ball inside to Piecuch and Owen Kain helped his team.
“We are blessed,” Grzybek said. “Brodie did a great job at set last year. We are always going to try to feed the middle If we can.”
Jelonkiewicz finished with three goals for Palatine while Hilgers scored twice. The Pirates also got a big game from Hubert Rozkowski, who made 13 saves, including three point-blank shots.
Scott led Barrington with three goals, while Matt and Luke Bucaro each scored twice. Their keeper, Luke Keller, also had a solid game, turning away 13 shots, 10 of which came in the second half.
“We had some key players get in foul trouble and that hurt us,” Barrington coach Robert Emary said. “It was just tough to bounce back. We were able to get it down to a two-goal deficit, but just couldn’t get any closer.”