Sam Balas scored seven goals as Carmel beat Harker 14-10 on Saturday, Sept. 12. Harker reached the CCS Division II championship game last season, falling to Leland 12-9 on Nov. 14, 2025.
Callan Tescher added four goals, five assists and four steals for the Padres. Oliver Cogley anchored the defense, according to John Devine on X.
The win capped a 3-0 week for Carmel. Balas totaled 18 goals across three games in five days.
On Tuesday, Sept. 8, Balas and Tescher each scored five goals in a 17-3 rout of Leland, the program that won last year's CCS Division II title. Wade Nothhelfer added three goals, and Sam Brown recorded his first varsity goal, according to Devine's earlier report.
On Friday, Sept. 11, Balas put in six goals and goalkeeper August Hohman made 15 saves in an 11-7 win over Arroyo Grande. Hamish Forsythe stood out on defense, Devine reported.
Carmel was ranked No. 4 in the Monterey Herald's preseason boys water polo Top 5, published Sept. 3, behind Soquel, Stevenson and Santa Cruz. Pacific Grove was listed on the bubble.
The Padres' three-game stretch included wins over the reigning CCS Division II champion (Leland), a competitive Arroyo Grande squad and last year's runner-up (Harker). Balas, Tescher and Hohman each played central roles in the run, with Cogley and Forsythe providing defensive support.
Seven different Carmel players recorded goals or key defensive contributions across the three contests: Balas, Tescher, Nothhelfer, Brown, Hohman, Cogley and Forsythe.
