New Trier takes Pirate Invite; Palatine finishes second
Only a loss in its final game kept Palatine’s boys water polo team from going undefeated in its own Pirate Invitational.
The Pirates started Saturday’s action with a 14-5 victory over McHenry, then started the championship round with an 8-8 tie with Loyola as Krystian Kalev scored with 35 seconds left to knot the game up.
New Trier, the tournament champion, topped Palatine 18-5 in what amounted to the championship game.
Loyola, which placed second, fell to New Trier but stayed much closer to the Trevians in an 8-4 decision.
Against McHenry, Christian Kalfas and Wally Kleinfeldt had 3 goals apiece to pace Palatine and goalie Peter Blackham made 8 blocks.
Against Loyola, Kalev led the way for the Pirates with 3 goals and Kalfas had 2.
On Friday, Palatine (3-1-1) earned a 13-3 victory over St. Ignatius in the opening round.
New Trier was ranked No. 4 in the state by illpolo.com in its preseason rankings.