A visiting Gregori High squad put a hitch in the Pitman High boys water polo team’s league record when the Jaguars rallied in the final quarter of Monday’s matchup to come out on top, 14-7.

 “Good three quarters of polo to watch,” said Pitman head coach Justin Jones. “We started well, we started with that intensity…we just had some small mistakes made by some players that didn’t benefit the team.”

Following the loss, the Pride are now 7-5 overall and 1-1 in the Central California Athletic League. 

They are coming off a 9-8 win over Modesto High last Wednesday when they kicked off league play. 

“We won 9-8 over Modesto last Wednesday… very close, goal to goal and just a great attitude and ability to stay in it, both teams,” said Jones. 

It took 70 seconds for the first goal to be scored in Monday’s game.

Gregori took the 1-0 lead to open up the first quarter. 

From there, the two teams exchanged goals as the momentum swung back and forth until the final seven minutes. 

Joe Carlson tied the game to make it 1-1 in the first. 

Bryce Kelly gave Pitman a 2-1 lead with 6:33 left in the second. 

By the end of the half, the score read 4-3 after a tough battle that saw multiple shots and turnovers. 

The turnovers increased in the second half for the Pride who would eventually be outscored, 11-3. 

Gregori took a 7-6 lead by the end of the third, before the game really got away from Pitman. 

In the fourth, Gregori outscored Pitman, 7-1, as they doubled the goal total, ending the game, 14-7. 

“They played a good game of water polo… we just committed too many silly mistakes in the second half and the score shows that,” said Jones. “…We have to motivate again. I have to get my guys in the right mindset where they can play the best game they can. Today we were in it and I want to learn what mental mistakes took us out of it.” 

Next for Pitman will be a road contest at Downey High at 3 p.m. Wednesday.