SPLASHY STOPPER HARVARD-WESTLAKE'S CONNOLLY AT HIS BEST IN 'BIG SITUATIONS'.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

Jay Connolly's Mission League counterparts had to be envious. As goalkeeper for the Harvard-Westlake High boys' water polo team, Connolly had the luxury of playing behind an offense so productive it outscored opponents 143-32 en route to an undefeated Mission League season.

But the real luxury is Connolly. Although an abundance of lopsided victories left Connolly overshadowed by the scorers, the junior third-year varsity player proved his value in close games against top teams, the type of situation he knows he'll face tonight when the Wolverines of Studio City play for their first Southern Section title since 1991.

Top-seeded Harvard-Westlake will face No. 2 Long Beach Wilson in the Div. I final at Belmont Plaza at 8:15 p.m.

``Obviously we wouldn't be where we are without him,'' Wolverines junior Will Hindle-Katel said. ``I think he's the best goalie in CIF. I'm his teammate, but I really do think that.

``He seems to thrive in big situations. Pressure doesn't get to him, it makes him better.''

Connolly is on a streak that includes 20 saves in last week's semifinal victory over No. 4 El Toro, a game that was decided in sudden-death overtime, where the slightest of errors by Connolly would have meant an end to the Wolverines' season.

``It's pretty intense being the goalie and knowing everything I do can make or break the season at this point,'' Connolly said.

He helped send Harvard-Westlake into the playoffs on a high note by making 16 saves in a 9-8 victory over Servite of Anaheim in the regular- season finale. Servite, ranked No. 1 in the nation at the time, had a chance to tie the game in the closing seconds, but Connolly blocked the shot.

``He has to be one of the best in California,'' Wolverines coach Rich Corso said after that game, which he described as Connolly's best of the season.

If anyone knows quality goalkeepers it's Corso, who is the goalkeeping coach for the U.S. National team.

In addition to reaping a wealth of knowledge about the position from Corso, Connolly has spent a lifetime learning from his older brother Brendan, a former All-American goalkeeper at Harvard-Westlake, who went on to play at California.

The younger Connolly took up the sport in third grade. He quickly was teamed with Hindle-Katel and others who have remained together to form the nucleus of this year's young Wolverines. Connolly, Hindle-Katel and junior Eric Vreeland gained international experience as members of the U.S. Cadet team that played in Yugoslavia during the summer. The three also play for the Los Angeles Water Polo Club, which won the 16-and-under title at the this year's Junior Olympics.

Success has been plentiful for the group that has won two Junior Olympic titles in three years, earned multiple age-group All-America honors and never lost a league game during their high school careers. But a Southern Section title remains elusive.

Connolly and many of the other Harvard-Westlake players were reserves when the Wolverines made their last championship appearance two years ago. That game also was against Wilson, which overcame a fourth-quarter deficit to win by two.

Wilson has won six of the past seven division titles, including the past two. Harvard-Westlake boosted its hopes of toppling the dynasty when the Wolverines defeated the Bruins 9-8 last month.

``We're all going to try to play the game of our lives,'' Connolly said. ``I've been in a pretty good rhythm lately, I'll just try to keep that going and stay focused. ... I've been looking forward to this for a long time.''

Heather Gripp, [phone]

heather.gripp(at)dailynews.com

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Harvard-Westlake goaltender Jay Connolly is ``one of the best in California,'' according to Wolverines coach Rich Corso, who also is the goalkeeping coach for the U.S. National team.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer