Luke Johnston scored six goals and Sacred Heart Prep clinched at least a tie for the West Catholic Athletic League regular-season title, beating visiting Valley Christian 18-9 on Wednesday.

Jake Tsotadze added a goal and recorded five assists for the Gators (12-2, 6-0), who host Harvard-Westlake (14-1) at 10 a.m. Thursday ahead of the North vs. South Challenge Water Polo Tournament that begins Friday at Sacred Heart Prep and Menlo-Atherton.

Menlo School moved into sole possession of third place in the WCAL after beating visiting St. Ignatius 21-6 as Connor MacMitchell recorded seven goals. Second-place Bellarmine beat St. Francis 7-6 in sudden death overtime to send the Lancers into a fourth-place tie.

Sacred Heart Prep, Bellarmine, Menlo School and St. Francis are all entered in the North-South Challenge and will meet a SoCal powerhouse in the opening round. Peninsula Athletic League's Menlo-Atherton (8-6) will also participate and hosts Harvard-Westlake at 1 p.m. Friday.

SHP and Harvard-Westlake played in last year's championship game, with the Gators winning 7-6 for their first Challenge title in the 13 years of the tournament.

Mater Dei (6-5), which plays SHP on Friday at 2:50 p.m., holds five of the 12 championship trophies.

SH Prep has finished third twice (2013, 2008) and Menlo School placed third in 2006.

The 16 teams have a combined 157-46 record (.773 winning percentage), making it the best tournament in Northern California.

The Knights (13-5) face Santa Margarita (9-3) at Sacred Heart Prep on Friday morning (9 a.m.), the first game to be contested.

The Challenge runs through Saturday, with winner's bracket games at SHP. The championship is scheduled for 5:20 p.m., preceded by the third-place match at 4 p.m.

Against the Wildcats, Menlo goalie Zayd Mahmoud recorded 10 saves and five assists, leading the counter attack.

Connor Enright added two goals and three steals. Greg Hilderbrand scored three goals and Jack King and Jack Murad each added a pair.

Jack Vort scored three goals and had two assists in SHP's win over Valley Christian. Teddy Pasquesi had two goals and two steals, Wyatt Stenson made nine saves, Will Swart added two goals and three assists and Luke Hammarskjold scored three times.

Menlo-Atherton hosts Woodside at 4 p.m. Thursday with the PAL title at stake.

Eleanor Facey scored four goals and drew three exclusions, Ella Woodhead had three goals and two assists and Sacred Heart Prep downed host Valley Christian 15-4 in a WCAL match on Wednesday.

Brienz Lang added three goals, an assist and steal for the Gators (16-2, 5-0), who travel to St. Francis (16-2, 5-0) next Wednesday at 6 p.m. for the WCAL regular-season finale.

Margot Gibbons scored twice and had an assist, Annabel Facey scored a goal, had two assists and recorded four steals and Isabella Bachler scored a goal, recorded an assist and made two steals.

Kate Brandin added a goal, two assists and two steals and Megan Norris made 10 saves.

In nonleague action, Menlo School topped Palo Alto 16-3 as Sophie Golub scored four goals, Sydney Bianchi and Annie Bisconti added three goals apiece and Rusha Bhat scored twice.

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