Story from the Glendale News-Press
Saturday, November 9, 2001

Nitros outmatched in loss
Glendale boys' water polo team can't do anything to slow down
No. 2-ranked South Pasadena in 14-9 defeat.
By HAMLET NALBANDYAN

SOUTH PASADENA -- There was simply nothing that the Glendale High boys' water polo team could do Thursday.
The Nitros played well defensively, moved the ball around with general ease, and for the most part, ran their offense to their capable potential.
Too bad for Glendale, its first-round opponent in the CIF Southern Section Division III postseason match was No. 2-ranked South Pasadena High. On the road in front of an enthusiastic crown, the Nitros fell, 14-9, to be eliminated from the postseason. The Tigers, the Rio Hondo League champs, now face Upland in the quarterfinals.
"I thought we played pretty well, almost as good as the Peninsula match," Glendale Coach Pat Lancaster said, referring to Tuesday's 9-4 wild-card victory.
"South Pasadena is just too good. They've got no weaknesses, at least none that we can see. They're so deep too."
The Tigers (17-10) controlled the tempo from the outset, jumping out to a 5-2 first-quarter advantage.
Glendale (14-8), the third-place representative from the Pacific League, tried its best to hang in there, but never got closer than three goals.
Although, the Nitros did have their chances. Glendale had numerous point-blank attempts against South Pasadena's Gideon Granath, but the goalkeeper showed why he might be one of the best keepers in the division.
Granath finished with 15 saves, 10 in the first half. A couple of his saves came against Glendale's 6-foot-4 driver, Matt Hahn, and from close range too.
Hahn eventually got his, scoring a team-high four goals. The senior also had four steals.
Glendale, trailing, 11-8, had a golden opportunity with a little over three minutes left in the match to get back in it.

But on a 6-on-5 advantage, the Nitros' Lars Speer took an unecessary early shot from the perimeter, which was easly stopped by Granath.
South Pasadena would then close the match with a 3-1 run, making the score a little more lopsided then the match actually was.
The loss marked what might be the final match for Lancaster coaching the Nitro boys' team. He has said on numerous occasions that this could his final year, but he didn't exactly rule out yet another return.
"This may be my swan song," he said. "But I'm not the story. These kids are. They're the ones who deserve the credit."

BOX SCORE Glendale*2*2*2*3--*9 South Pasadena*5*2*2*5--*14 GLENDALE -- Hahn 4 goals and 4 steals, Speer 2, Lee 1, 5 assists, 3 steals, R. Shaghoulian 1, Smirian 1 and 3 steals. * Saves: Sung 5. SOUTH PASADENA -- Baumgarten 4 goals, Bennett 4 goals, 3 assists, 3 steals, Banks 3 goals and 3 assists, Mallon 2 goals, Livadary 1 goal. * Saves: Gi. Granath 15.