The @jserra_boys_water_polo team opened the CIF-SS Open Division playoffs in dominant fashion on Saturday, as the Lions throttled the Santa Margarita Eagles by a score of 12-3 in first round action at JSerra Catholic High School.

JSerra improves to 18-6 on the season and completes a season sweep of the Eagles, winning the head-to-head battle with their Trinity League rivals for the fourth time this season.

The Lions will host the Harvard-Westlake Wolverines in the semifinals next Saturday at JSerra Catholic High School.

JSerra jumped out to a 3-0 lead at the end of the first period behind scoring strikes from juniors Lars Knepper, Christian Yonker, and Andrew Schneider.

Santa Margarita narrowed the lead to 3-2 with 4:23 left in the second period, but goals from sophomore Sasha Bjelica and junior Ronan Keane helped re-establish a three-goal Lions lead.

Junior goalie Stefan Vukojevic helped JSerra maintain their scoreboard advantage in the first half, as he produced six saves.

JSerra seized definitive control of the action in the third period, as Keane completed a hat trick with two goals and junior Dylan Park added his lone scoring strike of the contest, helping the Lions to a commanding 8-2 lead.

Vukojevic continued his standout day between the pipes to anchor a swarming Lions defense that controlled Santa Margarita’s offensive attack, as he finished with 13 saves in three periods of action.

Yonker added his second goal, with seniors Casey Cardenas, Cayden Taylor, and Isaiah Fine each registering individual scoring tallies to close out the Lions triumph.

📸: @dylanstw__ ...