The Hoover High boys’ water polo team took home a 22-7 win against Rowland High in its first home game of the season Wednesday. 

Hoover started on the backfoot in the first quarter when Rowland scored within the first minute.  

Hoover turned it around after a two-goal run making it 2-1. This came to an end when Rowland scored with very little time remaining. 

Hoover fought back with Haik Aghadjnaian scoring with five seconds remaining, giving the team a boost of confidence into the second quarter leading 3-2.

The Tornados started the second quarter strong, with back-to-back goals making it 5-2 a minute in. 

Rowland then scored and tried really hard to level with the Tornados to decrease the deficit making it 5-3. 

Although what seemed to be Rowland fighting back eventually led to a seven-goal run streak by Hoover making it 12-3. 

This huge goal run was mainly due to Davit Harutyunyan and Tigran Mkrtumyan each scoring two goals each in this seven-goal run. 

“We feel good, we feel strong,” Mkrtumyan said. “We gotta step it up and get ready for league.”

With the aid of the goalkeeper Grickore Danelyan making crucial saves, the Tornados went into halftime with a 12-3 lead. 

“I know we won and played a great game but I know we could’ve done better and that’s why we gotta keep practicing for bigger tournaments and games,” Danelyan said.

The third quarter commenced with the Tornados scoring three goals before Rowland came with a fourth goal of the day making it 15-4. 

After conceding, the Tornadoes went on a two-goal run making it 17-4 with the help of players Aghadjnaian and Rafael Davtyan scoring. 

The fourth quarter commenced with Hoover having a strong defense with a strong offense as well. 

Those three goals came from Rocco Boyadjian, Armen Tarakhchyan and Mkrtumyan scoring till a late Rowland goal but it was too late and Hoover had sealed the game. 

Said Boyadjian: “It felt good winning at home but we need to continue practicing and continue preparing for league.”