The nation’s leading goal scorer did a little bit of everything to help Sierra post its first-ever playoff win in boys water polo on Wednesday.

Collins Schluer had a team-high five steals to go with a block, six goals and four assists, as the eighth-seeded Timberwolves took care of No. 9 Beyer 14-9 at Manteca High’s R. Stephen Winter Pool.

Sierra (16-14) scored the first four goals of the game and never trailed. Up next is No. 1 seed Buhach Colony on Friday in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III quarterfinals.

“From the beginning, I knew they were going to play up on me, so I just looked to find my teammates and really focus on my defense,” Schluer said.

The senior center now has 221 goals on the season.

With much attention placed on Schluer, others took advantage of their opportunities at the start. Carson Murray, Mason Chavez and Bayan Ballew each found the back of the net, and the T’wolves led 3-0 after the first quarter. Schluer set up Chavez’s breakaway opportunity with a steal near the half distance line.

Ballew converted on five of his 10 shot attempts, adding three steals, a block and an assist.

“Bayan has a really good outside shot, it’s just a matter of him having the confidence to take it,” Schluer said. “He shot it with confidence tonight, and we’ll need more of that from him.”

Like Schluer, Ballew was a workhorse on both ends of the pool. The junior turned defense into offense for the first goal of the final period, which helped put the game away. He poked the ball away from a Beyer winger and carried the ball to the other end of the pool on the counter attack, setting up Murray (two assists, block) for his second goal of the game. That gave Sierra its largest lead at 11-4.

“I’ve been playing with this program for three years now and have improved so much playing with these guys,” Ballew said. “I felt good tonight and am just happy to contribute in any way.”

Freshman Kiral Tran chipped in with three steals and three assists. He and Ballew also won two sprints apiece.

Goalie Noah Valdivia had seven saves.

Beyer (17-7) was paced by Joshua Jeppson (three steals, two assists), Zachary Brizendine (two steals, block) and John Capous (two assists, steal), who each tallied three goals. Patriots goalie Ari Sello secured 12 saves.

It was the third meeting between the two squads this season, and they split their previous match-ups in separate tournaments.

“We know that they have those outside shooters, so we were really working on pressing prior to the game,” Sierra coach Corey Winter said. “We were working on some new things, and the boys picked up on it really great.

“They really stepped up their defense from the beginning of the season to now. It’s just amazing to see this team grow and to be where they’re at right now. This is the first time they’ve ever won in the playoffs, so that’s just a really big leap for the program. I’m really happy that I get to experience it with these boys.”