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SANTA ANA — Ed Carrera learned on Sept. 5 that his old coaching position at Crean Lutheran had suddenly opened. Later that day, he drove to Santa Barbara to reunite with the Saints’ boys water polo program and coach an early-season tournament.
“Running all over,” Carrera said with a smile of the past few weeks. “I just figured, ‘I’m not going to let (the players) go through a whole, new process of hiring (of a coach) because that could take months to find the right fit.’ “
“So I connected with the (athletic director) and said, ‘I’ll do it. (I’ll) finish off the season,’ ” the coach added.
On Tuesday, Carrera guided Crean Lutheran to one of the biggest victories in school history.
Senior center Charlie Bowman scored seven goals, senior attacker Julian Amakasu added five and senior goalie Daniel Mirejovsky made nine saves as the Saints upset defending Crestview League champion Foothill 14-12 at Foothill High.
The Saints (9-5, 1-0) never trailed and led by as five goals in the fourth period en route to their first victory against Foothill (7-7, 0-1). The Knights have won the Crestview League every season since 2014.
“Extremely happy about the win,” said Amakasu, who added two field blocks and two steals. “(Foothill) is a very respectful program. They’ve been Division 1, Open (Division).”
Carrera replaced second-year coach Jeffrey Runyan, who resigned, Saints athletic director Eric Olson confirmed.
Runyan also resigned as a club coach with North Irvine, said Carrera, who serves as the program director for the organization.
Carrera resigned after the 2023-2024 boys and girls seasons at Crean Lutheran to focus on the North Irvine club. This past summer, Carrera and his brother Steve guided the club’s 18-and-under boys to the gold medal at the Junior Olympics.
Carrera’s close ties to Crean Lutheran has led to a smooth transition this month, Amakasu said.
“It’s been pretty seamless,” Amakasu said. “We’re glad that it’s Ed. … A lot of guys who are on varsity know him from club and (2022 and 2023 at Crean Lutheran).”
Mirejovsky, a transfer from Bishop Gorman of Nevada, made two of his saves against a Foothill power play that finished 0 for 4. Crean Lutheran went 2 for 2 with the extra attacker.
The Saints also received a goal and three assists from junior Everett Chen and one goal and an assist from junior Connor McTaggart.
“We can be CIF champions,” Carrera said. “That’s an attainable goal.”
John Bergstedt, Luke Bennett and Ezra Nelson each scored three goals for Foothill. Bergstedt, a senior committed to Navy, drew a penalty and three exclusions.
The Knights showed their speed with six counterattack goals. They also surged in the fourth once shifting into a “press to steal” defense.
“But we needed that urgency for four quarters,” Foothill coach Dean Crow said.
Foothill and Crean Lutheran are seeded sixth and ninth, respectively, for the S & R Sport Tournament on Friday and Saturday at Woollett Aquatics Center.
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