Newport Harbor coasts by Uni

Joseph Boo

NEWPORT BEACH - Newport Harbor High’s boys water polo team looked

like the CIF Southern Section Division I’s No. 1 team in more ways than

one Saturday. After building up an impressive five-goal lead in the first

quarter, the Sailors got complacent, and just managed to hold University

off 13-9.

“We had a great first quarter, Newport Harbor Coach Brian Kreutzkamp

said. “We had great intensity. But we got arrogant after that and took

Uni for granted. We can’t just show up and expect to take them.”

Newport did not play with Robert Weiner, who was a coach’s scratch. With

Weiner not in his usual two-meter spot, Peter Belden and Ryan Cook

rotated in the position and played admirably.

In fact, the game inevitably boiled down to a mano a mano duel between

Belden and University’s Ted Peck. Belden almost single-handedly buried

Uni in the first quarter with four goals. With Weiner not playing, Belden

scored from a variety places, with fast breaks, perimeter, two-meter and

one penalty goal. He ended up with seven goals in the game.

Besides the four from Belden, Steve Jendrusina and Brendan Hansen also

scored in the first quarter. Newport’s lead was extended to 7-1 in the

second when Kurt Thayer scored from the left side.

Uni then mounted its comeback. Peck nearly brought the Trojans back,

scoring five of his six goals in the third period. Peck managed to find

creases in the Sailors’ interior defense and made them pay with some

impressive one-timers.

Uni managed to close the game to 9-7 in the middle of the third quarter.

Then, Newport was awarded a penalty shot when Cook was fouled on a shot

attempt. Belden converted the penalty, and moments later, Belden scored

again to give the Sailors some breathing room. A Uni goal at the end of

the third period cut the lead to 11-8.

Newport’s defense tightened up in the fourth to make sure it won. Goalie

Tim Birdsong made some timely saves, and Hansen and Belden got key steals

to stifle Uni’s offense. Hansen and Cook scored in the fourth to extend

the Sailors’ lead. The Trojans managed just one goal in the last quarter,

and Newport managed to get the 13-9 victory.

While relieved about the victory, Kreutzkamp was obviously disappointed

with his team’s performance.

“I was surprised we slacked off,” he said. “If we play like that against

Irvine on Wednesday, we’ll lose.”

On the other side though, Uni was still impressed, even awed by it’s

opponent.

“We came out hesitant,” University Coach Jon Pendleton said. “(Newport)

really jumped on us then. Once we got our jitters out, we just went out

and swam. And we managed to score.”

“What can I say. Newport’s a great team.”

NONLEAGUE

Newport Harbor 13, University 9 University 1 2 5 1 - 9

Newport Harbor 6 1 4 2 - 13

University: Peck 6, Slavik 3. Saves: Chow 4.

Newport Harbor: Belden 7, Hansen 3, Cook 1, Jendrusina 1, Thayer 1.

Saves: Birdsong 10.