VISALIA - Hanford High's boys water polo team got a win and a big wakeup call rolled into one convenient package Thursday night.

The top-seeded Bullpups had to overcome a 3-0 deficit after one quarter and got 13 saves from goalkeeper Ryan Dias to defeat Fresno 13-10 in a Division II quarterfinal game at El Diamante High School.

"I've never been a fan of the first-round bye," said Hanford coach Vince Roeber. "The other team already has that playoff experience."

Next up for the Bullpups is No. 4 San Joaquin Memorial on Saturday. SJM beat El Diamante 16-13 on Thursday. Time and location of the game were unknown as The Sentinel went to press this morning.

Fresno beat No. 9 Edison on Tuesday to advance to Thursday's game, but the seeds looked meaningless after one quarter, when the Warriors took a 3-0 lead.

"Our coach is always telling us we have to be ready to step it up in the playoffs," said Dias. "He's always reminding us of 2007, when his No. 5 team beat the top seed. In the playoffs, it's a different game."

Roeber's message obviously sunk in during the second quarter, when Hanford outscored Fresno 5-1 to take a 5-4 lead at the break.

Brad Wright scored Hanford's first goal of the gamed at 6:46 of the second quarter, igniting a 4-0 run. Josh Onrellas had a goal in the run and Michael Conway two, the latter's second goal giving the 'Pups their first lead of the night with 2:54 left in the first half.

Fresno's Rolph Carson scored to tie it at 2:09, but Davey Moroles scored with 59 seconds left, giving Hanford the lead for good.

Dias had a big save with 12 seconds left before intermission to preserve the one-goal margin. He also stopped two penalty shots in the second half.

"I have a lot of confidence in my teammates to do what they do, and they have a lot of confidence in me to do what I do," Dias said.

Hanford wiened the lead to four goals, 8-4 late in the third quarter, but the Warriors didn't go away easily, cutting the lead to one goal twice in the final quarter, for the last time with 1:53 left on a Carson goal that made it 10-9.

The Bullpups outscored Fresno 3-1 the rest of the way, getting two goals from Moroles and one from Josh Ornellas.

"In the playoffs, everyone is going to give it their best effort because they may be playing their last game," Roeber said.

Brad Wright and Conway added two goals for Hanford.

Carson led Fresno with five goals.

(Nov. 13, 2009)