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Capistrano Valley’s latest one-goal victory in boys water polo netted its biggest reward yet Tuesday.
Samy Hadjaz scored on a penalty shot with about one minute left in regulation to lift the visiting Cougars past No. 3 seeded Redondo 10-9 in the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals.
Capistrano Valley (25-4) and coach OJ Vazquez advance to face Damien in Saturday’s final at Mt. SAC in Walnut.
Damien defeated Los Alamitos 22-19 in the other Division 2 semifinal Tuesday.
Capistrano Valley earned the penalty shot on a power play as Hadjaz passed to Sebastian Viloria.
Hadjaz paced the Cougars’ attack with five goals while Kenzy Hadjaz added four.
Goalie Carter Nelson made eight saves.
Capistrano Valley edged Canyon 11-10 and No. 2 seed Riverside Poly 15-14 in the second round and quarterfinals, respectively.
Freshman Colin Carlin scored the winner against Canyon and his brother Jake, a senior, netted the winner against Riverside Poly.
Last season, the Cougars finished as the Division 2 runner to Brea Olinda.
In reaching its first section final since 2018, Capistrano Valley edged Damien 11-10 in the ’24 quarterfinals.
In other semifinals Tuesday, host Buena Park lost to top-seeded Charter 11-10 in Division 4 while Westminster fell at No. 1 Fontana 20-8 in Division 5. Christopher Stoddard had six goals for Westminster.