Support our coverage of high school sports by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now

IRVINE – The Irvine boys water polo team combined to defeat a former league rival and a former coach on Wednesday.

Seniors Sean Dory and Xavier Mao each scored three goals as the Vaqueros defeated Beckman and former Irvine coach Tijmen Egtberts 11-8 in a nonleague game at the Woollett Aquatics Center.

Irvine (2-2) excelled at shooting from the three-point line, while its former Pacific Coast League rival focused on providing extra coverage at center to defend UCLA commit Sam Bowman.

Beckman (1:1) limited Bowman to one goal on a counterattack, but Dory, Mao and their teammates took advantage of their scoring opportunities.

Five different players each scored a goal for Irvine’s top-class team.

“We knew Beckman had a plan for Sam, so we tried to open things up for guys like Sean and Zach (Believau),” Irvine coach Jose Cordero said. “When Sam gets that attention, it opens up those players and his teammates.”

Cordero also praised Believau’s defense against Beckman standout freshman Minjun Kim.

Experienced goalkeeper Maddox Kreil made six saves for Irvine.

Beckman (1-1) led 3-1 late in the first period before Irvine scored five unanswered goals early in the third period to take a 6-3 lead. The Vaqueros never trailed again.

“It’s still early and we’re young,” said Egtberts, who was not in the starting lineup for the first team. “It’s all about effort. … That’s a lesson we had to learn.”

Juniors Parsa Tamadon and Sean Parshin each scored three goals, surpassing Beckman.

The Patriots, who won the Pacific Coast League title last season, are now part of the South Coast League.

Beckman is one of the teams competing in the Long Beach Poly tournament this weekend.