CLOVIS - The Hanford West boys water polo team proved an old motto right during Saturday's Central Section Division III title game: That defense indeed wins championships.

The Huskies played a nearly flawless defensive game, going more than two-and-a-half quarters without giving up a goal as No. 2 Hanford West upset No. 1 Clovis North 6-3 to win its second straight Central Section title.

Kevin Conway scored three goals to lead the Huskies. Mike Hostetler added two and Tor Gudmundson had one.

Grayson Cardoza had nine saves.

Though Clovis North scored the first goal of the game with 2:08 left in first quarter, the Broncos weren't able to deal with the Huskies 2-meter player, Kevin Conway.

A stout defense, and Kevin Conway's dominance in front of the net, paced the Huskies.

"The kids played excellent," said Hanford West head coach Rick Conway. "Everybody did their part to win this one. The seniors stepped up and showed their leadership.

"Defensively they did a really good job of rotating."

Kevin Conway, Rick's son, took control in front of the net early and provided fits for Clovis North all match on his was to three goals.

"Kevin played tremendously," Rick Conway said. "They just couldn't deal with him."

After the first Clovis North goal, Mike Hostetler tossed Conway the ball near the goal before it shot it past the Bronco goalkeeper to tie it at 1-1.

Hanford West took the lead for good in the second quarter.

The Huskies took advantage of a power play, finding Hostetler on the weak side of the goal for an open shot.

Later, Hanford West scored on two straight possessions.

Gudmundson knocked one in from about four meters out then Conway pushed the lead to 4-1 at the half.

He scored the first goal of the third quarter to make it 5-1.

And after the Broncos fouled him near the net, Hostetler scored on the penalty shot with 11 seconds left in the third quarter.

Clovis North narrowed the lead to 6-2 with 3:28 left on a power play to break its 19 minute, 36 second scoreless streak. The Broncos added another goal in the final minute, but it was too little, too late.

The Huskies ran out the clock to secure back-to-back Central Section titles for the first time by any team in any sport in the school's history.

Afterward, Hanford West celebrated by pushing the coaching staff into the play, then received the championship plaque and hats.

"It was a statement game for us," said Kevin Conway, who named the tournament's MVP. "Every championship feels great, but we wanted to prove that last year wasn't a fluke, that we've built a program here.

"Clovis North is a tough team. But we played out best game of the year by far."

(Nov. 14, 2009)