Girls water polo: Deyden stops Sea Kings

Steve Virgen

CORONA DEL MAR - Not even head congestion nor the thought of Corona

del Mar High’s Christina Hewko preparing for a penalty shot could bring a

frown to Newport Harbor’s Heather Deyden.

Instead, Deyden, the Tars’ girls water polo senior goalie, was all

smiles before she rose to slap away Hewko’s shot and swung the momentum

to Harbor. Deyden hoped her smile would distract Hewko.

Afterward, Deyden might have been showing a smirk as her key save

helped the Sailors to a 7-5 victory over Back Bay rival CdM, Thursday, in

the 32-team Irvine Tournament at the Sea Kings’ pool.

Harbor (18-5), ranked No. 2 in Orange County, stormed back from a 3-1

deficit as Jenna Booth, Katherine Belden and Annie Wight scored two goals

each.

“If she looks at me and I’m smiling, it kind of throws (the shooter)

off,” said Deyden, who missed Harbor’s first game on Thursday because of

sickness. “When I smile it boosts me up and gives me energy.”

Said Tars’ Coach Bill Barnett, “When she blocked the penalty shot,

that was a very big lift. That was a big turning point, psychologically.”

CdM (12-10) built a 3-1 first-period lead as senior Lindsey Daley

scored two goals and sophomore Danielle Carlson threw in her first of

two. The Sea Kings had a chance to go up, 4-2, but Deyden came up big

with the save on the penalty shot.

“We came out strong and just ran out of gas,” CdM Coach John Vargas

said. “They had a lot easier game in the first round. They were rested

for us.”

Deyden also made a key save with one minute remaining. And, she was

supported by Harbor’s defense. Belden and Wight finished with three

steals each.

Today at 6 p.m., the Tars will face Santa Margarita, a 6-5

sudden-death winner over Santa Barbara, which takes on CdM at 5 p.m. Both

games are at CdM.

The Sailors set up their matchup against CdM with an easy 16-4 victory

over Millikan. Harbor senior Erin Kelly Bates and sophomore junior Amber

Bralay scored three goals each as Tars starters sat out the last three

periods.

CdM took care of Canyon, 14-6, ranked No. 10 in Orange County before

the Back Bay game. Hewko scored three goals in a 9-2 victory, but Sea

Kings starters played until 1:44 remaining to secure the win.

IRVINE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS

Newport Harbor 7, Corona del Mar 5

Newport Harbor 1 2 2 2 - 7

Corona del Mar 3 0 1 1 - 5

Newport Harbor - Booth 2, Belden 2, Wight 2, Murphy 1.Saves - Deyden 6.

Corona del Mar - Daley 2, Carlson 2, Guthrie 1.

Saves - Wells 6.