Men’s Water Polo shook off some spring break rust and used a 10-goal run to knock off visiting Oviedo, 17-5. Jack Orchard scored six goals, Ryan Staton five and Reed Davis picked up three as the Panthers improved to 14-1 on the season. Staton put the Panthers on the board just 27 seconds into the game and Orchard doubled the lead less than a minute later off a long crossing pass from David James. After Oviedo halved the lead, Orchard pushed the lead to 3-1 with a dart into the right corner that just beat the shot clock buzzer. Oviedo scored twice to tie the game at 3-3 but Orchard gave DP the lead for good with a backhander into the left side of the cage for a 4-3 lead at the first break. In the second quarter, the Panthers outscored the Lions, 5-1. Ryan Staton skipped a shot into the right side to start things off and Reed Davis followed with a sensational goal after collecting a rebound, surviving a drowning attempt and rising up to push in DP’s sixth goal at the 3:25 mark. Two minutes later, Davis drilled a power play goal into the left corner for a 7-4 lead to spark a three-goal rally that took all of 46 seconds. With 49 seconds left, goaltender Collin Brandt heaved a pool-length pass that Jack Orchard slapped home for an 8-4 lead and 20 seconds later, Reed Davis drove in from the left side, drew the keeper out of the water and dropped a perfect shot over his head to give the Panthers a 9-4 lead at the half. In the second half, DP blew the game open with seven unanswered goals. As he did the previous two quarters, Ryan Staton triggered the Panthers’ rally with a laser into the right corner 39 seconds into the period. Jack Orchard followed with a rocket off the right post that bounded in for his fifth goal at 5:59 and Staton pushed the lead to 12-4 with a turnaround toss into the right corner. After Orchard’s sixth goal at 4:48, Evan Staton put his name in the scoring column 26 seconds later with a shot across the cage off an assist by Ian Supra. Ryan Staton’s fifth goal pushed the lead to 15-4 and with 57 seconds to go in the third, senior Ed Baker went top shelf to give DP a 16-4 lead heading into the final quarter. Oviedo broke the 10-0 Panther scoring run but Eduardo Macias made sure DP had the last mark with a goal at 2:04 for the final margin. The Panthers have now won ten straight games and will host Apopka tonight at 8:15.
Women’s Water Polo surged to a 3-1 lead in the first quarter but couldn’t hang on in a 7-6 loss to visiting Oviedo. The Panthers (10-5) looked strong in the early going as Katie Heffernan punched home a rebound for a 1-0 lead and Meredith Canty followed up with a goal to double the lead at the 3:09 mark of the first quarter. After Oviedo responded with a goal, Rachel Dytrych scored the first of her two goals, a shot into the upper right corner off an assist from Heffernan, for a 3-1 lead at the end of the period. Oviedo tapped their second goal but Shannon MacNeil answered with her first goal off a deep pass from Mary Campbell to stake DP to a 4-2 lead at the half. Oviedo would go on a 3-0 run to take a 5-4 lead in the third quarter but Dytrych tied the match with a power play goal at 1:44. Oviedo jumped up a goal once again before Shannon MacNeil squared the score at 6-6 with a power play goal at 3:43 but that was all DP could muster. Oviedo scored the game-winner less than two minutes later, capping a 5-2 run to close out the game. The Panthers host Apopka tonight at 7:15.
After their seven-match sweep streak came to an end in the first game, Men’s Volleyball refocused and came back to win the next three in a 19-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-18 District victory over host Orlando Christian Prep. Andrew Johnson picked up 17 kills, Justin Soffer finished with 12 and Matt Rosenthal came away with 35 assists. DP (14-2) maintained their win streak with their 12th consecutive victory.
Top-ranked Flag Football stayed perfect on the season with their sixth consecutive blowout victory, 40-0, over visiting Oak Ridge. Junior quarterback Hannah Schaible threw for five touchdowns and ran for a sixth as the defending State Champion Panthers (6-0) have now outscored their opponents, 228-18, and Schaible has now passed for 27 scores, on pace to shatter her record of 50 set last year. Jade Cheek caught two touchdown passes and intercepted three passes on defense while Ashley Diedrich, Shya Garrett and Malia Harrison hauled in scores as well. Harrison,a sophomore, brought down nine receptions, tying for the second time her own school record she set last year. DP will get a taste of out-of-area competition next week with Tallahassee Leon coming into town Thursday night and a doubleheader Friday vs. Tallahassee Chiles and Seminole Ridge.
Varsity Baseball picked up their third straight victory with a 4-3 decision over host Edgewater. Mike Flaherty struck out five over four innings, allowing one earned run and three hits to pick up the win. Dylan Jones came on in the fifth and pitched a scoreless inning before Robbie Barrett slammed the door in the seventh for the save. Walker Haymaker and Ryan Larson stepped it up at the plate for the second day in a row, each going 2-3 with an RBI. Jack Flaherty added a double and scored a run and Billy Underwood reached base twice, stole three bases and scored a pair of runs. DP (9-11) next plays undefeated and top-ranked Olympia. The Panthers and Titans, who combined for 24 runs in their first meeting this season, will go at it again Saturday at 2:00 pm.
JV Baseball ran their winning streak to seven games with a 10-7 victory over visiting Edgewater. Myles Marshall led the offensive attack going 2-3 with a pair of doubles, two RBIs and a walk. Matt Sullivan went 1-2 with an RBI.
Softball saw their three game winning streak come to an end with a 5-2 loss to the Lake Nona Lions. Jecoliah Pratt came on in relief and pitched four complete innings, allowed just two hits while striking out three and went 1-2 at the plate with a walk. Amy Almond added a double and a walk. The Panthers (13-7) look to regroup at home Saturday morning at 10:00 vs. Boone.
Today’s Games:
Women’s Lacrosse vs. East Ridge: 6:00
Men’s Lacrosse at University: 6:00 / 7:30
Water Polo vs. Apopka: 7:15 / 8:15
Saturday:
Track and Field at Florida Relays (Gainesville): 9:00 am
Softball vs. Boone: 10:00 am
JV Baseball vs. Olympia: 11:00 am
Baseball vs. Olympia: 2:00
