Piedmont High Boys Water Polo Defeats Lick-Wilmerding 15-8 Behind Henry Stein’s Seven Goals

Standout attacker Henry Stein poured in seven goals to power the Piedmont High School varsity boys water polo team to a decisive 15-8 non-league road victory over host Lick-Wilmerding High School in San Francisco on Tuesday, October 13. Teammate Rylan Patty complemented the offensive surge by netting five goals of his own as the visiting Highlanders controlled the pool over the final three quarters. The seven-goal road triumph lifted Piedmont's overall season record to 7-8 heading into the final stretch of autumn league competition.

Host Lick-Wilmerding opened the contest with strong perimeter ball movement, seizing an early 2-1 advantage in the opening period behind attacker Johnny Doherty, who finished the afternoon with a team-high four goals for the Tigers. Piedmont's defensive press quickly adjusted to cut off interior passing lanes and spark rapid counterattacks down the pool. Over the next two quarters, the Highlanders completely flipped the momentum by scoring nine of the game's next eleven goals to build a commanding double-digit cushion.

Stein and Patty repeatedly capitalized on six-on-five power-play opportunities and transition sprints, overwhelming the San Francisco hosts before the fourth period began. Piedmont's coaching staff praised the squad's disciplined defensive communication and goalkeeper outlet passing, which allowed the East Bay visitors to dictate tempo away from their home aquatic facility in Alameda County. Role players across the Highlander bench gained valuable second-half minutes once the seven-goal margin was secured.

High school water polo programs across Piedmont, Oakland, Berkeley, and the Lamorinda corridor of Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda are currently jockeying for North Coast Section playoff seeding ahead of November tournament brackets. Athletic district officials noted that non-league road tests against competitive San Francisco independent schools help prepare student-athletes for the physical intensity of postseason elimination matches. The Piedmont Unified School District athletic board continues to coordinate regional transportation for autumn varsity squads.

Supporters, parents, and student fans can view updated varsity and junior varsity water polo schedules, league standings, and upcoming home match times at the community pool by visiting piedmontathletics.com or calling the Piedmont High School athletic department office on Magnolia Avenue at (510) 594-2626. Admission to regular season home aquatic contests in Piedmont remains open to the public.