ROYAL RETURNS TO THE TOP : ROYAL 6, AGOURA 3.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

They seemed unsure how to react. Members of the Royal High boys' water polo team looked at each other and briefly pumped their fists. That was the extentof the Highlanders' celebration after essentially clinching the Marmonte League title a year after having their 17-year streak atop the league ended by the same team they played Wednesday.

``I think they're more relieved than anything,'' Royal coach Steve Snyder said. ``I don't think the magnitude of it's sunk in yet.''

The Highlanders' ability to react to adversity is what gave Royal and its overflowing crowd at Rancho Simi Park reason to celebrate. The Highlanders defeated second-place Agoura 6-3, meaning Royal (17-6, 5-0) must lose two of its final three games for the Chargers (12-8, 4-2) to even tie for the league championship.

``This is way better (than last year),'' Royal junior Ramiro Saldain said. ``We were not going to lose to them again.''

Hans Larsen scored on a penalty shot with 2:59 left in the game to bring Agoura within 4-3, but Sean Carnahan scored less than a minute later to give Royal just its second two-point lead of the game. Agoura goalie Justin Rosa came out of the goal to swat away a shot by Saldain, but when Saldain's goal a minute later was the only other one the rest of the contest, the Highlanders secured the victory. Despite considerably outshooting the Chargers, Royal did not score more than one goal in any of the first three periods.

``After having been out of gear pretty much the whole game, we forced some pretty good shots,'' Snyder said.

The Highlanders had to alter their lineup with Tyler Templeton out sick, then Justin McClure getting into early foul trouble. The players that rotated in to fill the void could not match Royal's usual offensive punch but made for a stronger defense. Neither team could convert on man-up advantages.

Rosa made 11 saves, but many of Royal's scoring opportunities failed because of inaccurate shooting.

The one constant for the Highlanders was the performance of Tom Onyshko, who made 17 saves and did his usual solid job of distributing the ball and keeping the team together.

``Tom was the player of the game for us, no question,'' Snyder said.

Royal had two goals each from Saldain and senior Derek Anderson, the only player left from the Highlanders' last league championship.

``I really wanted to score,'' said Saldain, who said he did not have a goal against Agoura his first two years.

The Chargers tied the contest a minute into the second quarter on a goal by Donovan Tatum. Within a minute, Marc Ellison drove the lane, pulled up short and lobbed a shot over Rosa's head to return the lead to Royal for good.

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PHOTO Royal's Ramiro Saldain scored twice as the Highlanders beat Agoura 6-3 to clinch a Marmonte League title tie.

Evan Yee/Staff Photographer