Agoura Knows It’s in Troubled Water

Coach Jason Rosenthal of Agoura High knows what his team is up against in the Southern Section Division II girls’ water polo final tonight at Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach.

While he isn’t conceding to top-seeded Santa Barbara, he certainly isn’t thumping his chest either.

“If our kids come out and play hard, we’ve got a good chance,” Rosenthal said. “If nothing else, we want to give them a good close game.”

Santa Barbara (28-1), two-time defending division champion, has made it look easy in the last two finals, winning by seven and eight goals.

Agoura (21-6), ranked No. 2 the entire season, is the best candidate to give Santa Barbara a run for the title.

The Chargers, who lost to Santa Barbara, 7-3, in a nonleague game early this season, are seemingly a year away from capturing its first title.

Agoura, two-time Marmonte League champions, starts two seniors. All seven of Santa Barbara’s starters are seniors, including six who started in the final last year.

The Chargers are led by De De Perram, a junior two-meter player with 71 goals, and junior driver Joanna Antonsen, who has 54 goals.

Santa Barbara is a balanced squad but feature one of the best players in the state--senior Thalia Munro, two-time division player of the year. Munro has 72 goals. Meika Mosley and Julie Nisbet have combined on 110.