Defense and redemption equaled another water polo title for Gilman

by Derek Toney

Defense and redemption equaled another water polo title for Gilman Saturday evening. 

The Greyhounds won the MIAA crown with a 17-9 victory over Calvert Hall at Loyola University’s Mangione Aquatic Center. Treve Darby and Jonathan Bradlee each finished with four goals for Gilman.

The Greyhounds (15-0) wore down the Cardinals over the final 16 minutes of regulation to win their fifth championship in seven seasons and sixth overall. The Roland Park school went back-to-back in 2022 and 2023, and 2019 and 2020.

Last year, Gilman lost in the semifinals.

“We kind of collapsed in the second half and we did not want that to happen this year,” said Darby. “We just started working on defensive integrity, defense first, work on conditioning and building our mental toughness.”

Tied at halftime, Gilman outscored Calvert Hall, 9-1, to complete an undefeated campaign. Darby, who scored three goals in the second half, was the Greg Hallisey Award recipient as the title game’s Most Valuable Player.

Greyhounds coach Vaughan Smith said maturity was the big difference with this year’s team.

“When adversity got thrown at us, we kind of imploded. This year, we got challenged…we got challenged tonight,” said Smith. “I knew we’re a more matured team. But again, you just never know…pressure comes and things can happen.”

Gilman didn’t blink Saturday, methodically suffocating Calvert Hall. Darby opened the scoring - a minute into the second half - followed by strikes from Brody Carr, Hayden Dodge and Ethan Dorman.

Darby made it 14-9 with his third goal with 4 minutes, 25 seconds left in regulation. Seconds later, he intercepted a pass leading to a goal from senior Leo Eiswert.

“We just had to rely on great defense…we’ve been doing that all year, talking, helping back, just working as a unit,” said Darby. “Then the offense came in the second half.”

Calvert Hall’s only second half score came from James Fairbank with 5:44 to play, ending a 10-minute plus drought. Fairbank, a senior, finished with two goals for the Cardinals (10-4).

Calvert Hall enjoyed some early momentum, leading 5-3 after goalie Dylan Mellendick’s throw landed in the corner of the goal as the first quarter ended. The Cardinals got even at 8 on Andrew Rebbel’s goal with 15.7 seconds left before halftime.

Then came the second half.

“It’s just one goal leads to another and the momentum catches you. The next thing you know, it’s too late to come back,” said Calvert Hall coach Matt Rothmann. “There’s a little bit of quicksand.”

Rothmann was nonetheless proud of his team which fell short of its first title since 2015.

“It was really a four-year journey leading up to now,” he said. “They've made the effort to bring this team together, make us competitive again.”

Smith was confident Gilman’s postseason experience and overall depth would get it over the championship altar again. 

“We have a great culture,” said Smith. “We have a lot of fun with it.”