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Bulldogs cruise through Eagles to clinch seventh straight CCAL win
Ward, Thomas and Folly draw hat-tricks as Turlock polo tops Enochs
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Turlock High’s Drew Folly gets ready to attempt a shot during Wednesday’s 15-4 win over Enochs. Folly finished the game with three goals. - photo by Eddie Ruiz

Taylor Ward, Jackson Thomas and Drew Folly each had a hat-trick before halftime and the Turlock High varsity boys’ water polo team defeated Enochs High on Wednesday, 15-4, to extend their Central California Athletic League winning streak to seven. 

“So when we played them the first time they came out real strong and went up on us early by a couple of goals, which caught us by surprise, and they had a big win over Downey the other night, so I knew they would come in fired up,” said Turlock head coach Colin Wenstrand. “I was confident about that, and also you add how they played against us the first time, we just wanted to learn our lesson about starting slow.” 

Back on Sept. 30, Turlock beat Enochs, 13-6, but it was a slow start. 

“The case with a slow start it was against team’s that we were not familiar with their personnel, but this second time with Enochs we knew their top guys. We had to double team and add the home spectacle, and that is definitely an advantage,” said Wenstrand. 

Wednesday’s game was the opposite of a slow start. In fact, it took seven minutes for Turlock to score seven goals. They took a 7-0 lead heading into the second quarter where they went off again with multiple goals. It was another shutout quarter as they went off for another run, going 5-0 and taking a 12-0 lead at the half. 

By halftime, Folly, Ward and Thomas each had scored three goals for the Turlock Bulldogs. 

The third quarter saw a goalkeeper change as Matt Reis was pulled and put into the field while Zach Murphy closed out the final two quarters. Reis scored a goal in the fourth quarter with 4:29 left in the game. 

“We were ready to go, and my intent in this game was to keep our lineup as well. To Matt Reis’s credit, he is an all-around great player that can play the field,” said Wenstrand. “He played in the field all last year, and so for him to come in from the field and take over the goalie position, that says a lot about his talent and just an overall leader, but great when we are able to get the goalie in there and score a goal.” 

That eventually proved to be the final goal as the game ended 15-4. 

Turlock remains perfect in league dating back to last season at 17-0 in the CCAL.  Following Wednesday’s win, they are a perfect 7-0 and now 17-3 overall. 

“Very talented for sure… these kids, their mindset is at a different level and that is what we have been talking about is the mental aspect of it,” said Wenstrand. “These guys are working on that performance and so I think we are in the right spot and we have a big test coming up this weekend with Rio and maybe if we are lucky with Rocklin, depending whether we win or lose.” 

The next game for Turlock will be a road contest at Modesto High at 3:30 p.m. Monday.

“We are in such a great situation that we look at the great players we have, and yes we have had hiccups along the way, but with the exception of the big tournaments, we have been able to make adjustments as necessary and I think the guys have developed a sense of self-confidence as well,” Wenstrand added. “They have been able to stay calm and poised despite going down, and they work their way back into the game and make adjustments and shut it down in the second half.”
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Matt Reis of Turlock High makes a save during Wednesday’s 15-4 win over Enochs High from home. - photo by Eddie Ruiz