Boys water polo: Newport bows out in Junior Olympics

Tony Altobelli

LAKE FOREST - How does Newport Harbor High’s boys water polo coach

Brian Kreutzkamp sum up in one sentence the events that occurred

Wednesday for the Sailors in the U.S. Water Polo Junior Olympics?

“It’s been a very long day,” Kreutzkamp said following his team’s two

tough losses, 8-7 to Rose Bowl and 5-4 to La Morinda.

Despite the losses, the Sailors did not play poor matches, but just

didn’t have the bounces or the good fortune shine on their side.

In the morning contest against Rose Bowl, Newport trailed, 7-5 heading

into the fourth quarter, but managed to tie the game with eight seconds

remaining with a goal by Ryan Cook.

After a Rose Bowl timeout, Newport was stunned by a backhand goal that

hit the crossbar and went in with one second remaining.

“There was not much we could do about that goal,” Kreutzkamp said. “It

was an unblockable shot that found its way in.”

Following the loss, Newport dove back in the pool six hours later to

face La Morinda.

After falling behind early, Newport answered back when Steven

Jendrusina tied the game with a goal off an assist by Joey Snelgrove.

Similar to their earlier contest, Newport trailed by two heading into

the fourth quarter before Jendrusina scored again off a Snelgrove assist,

cutting the lead to 4-3.

La Morinda extended its lead to 5-3 with a no-look, over-the-head goal

with just over two minutes remaining.

Cook was given a four-meter penalty shot with 1:56 left and he promptly found the lower right corner of the goal and cut the lead back

to one.

Cook nearly tied the game with a steal and a breakaway opportunity,

but his shot drilled the crossbar and stayed out.

“That was our best game of the tournament,” Kreutzkamp said. “That’s

one of the best teams in this whole tournament and we had a couple of

great chances in that final period.

Missing from the tournament was Sailors standout Peter Belden, who was

in Germany at a family reunion.

Even with the early exit, Kreutzkamp was pleased with the effort. “We

were lucky to play four top-quality teams and got some great experience,”

he said.

Newport will wrap up its summer schedule with a consolation contest

Friday at 9:30 a.m. at Villa Park High.