Water polo world-beaters

By Ottawa Sportspage

Local water polo players Bogdan Djerkovic (above) and Jessica Gaudreault came up big in the most crucial matches to help the Canadian men’s and women’s teams earn a berth in the FINA World League Super Final.
With 4 berths in the Super Final at stake, the Canadian women fell behind 3-0 early in their Inter-Continental Cup quarterfinal match with Japan, but goalkeeper Gaudreault (Capital Wave) locked it down from there as her team sprinted ahead 8-4 after 3 quarters.

Djerkovic (Ottawa Titans) scored twice in the Canadian men’s decisive quarter-final contest with China, an 11-10 nail-biter.

The men’s team wound up taking the Inter-continental bronze medal, while the women were 3rd.

The men’s team also includes several past Titans players from Gatineau: Dusan Aleksic, David Lapins and Aleksa Gardijan. They will compete in the World League Super Final from June 18-23 in Serbia.

Capital Wave coach Rodrigo Rojas (men’s manager, Youth Pan American Championships & Junior World Championships) will also don the maple leaf abroad this summer.

Back at home, the Nepean Sportsplex will welcome the National Championship League Eastern Conference Championships from Apr. 26-28 (16-and-under boys and girls) and May 3-5 (19U men and women). All currently 3rd in their conference standings, the highest-rated local sides are Capital Wave blue (19U women), Golden Titans A (19U men) and the Titans 16U boys.