Corona del Mar earns back bragging rights

Corona del Mar edges Back Bay rival Newport Harbor in overtime on Wednesday afternoon to remain undefeated.NEWPORT BEACH -- Going into Wednesday’s Battle of the Bay girls’ water polo matchup between Corona del Mar and Newport Harbor, the Sea Kings were ranked No. 1 in CIF Southern Section Division II, and the Sailors were ranked No. 2 in Division I.

Both teams were coming off seasons where they reached the CIF finals of their respective divisions. Both teams were undefeated in early-season action.

Something had to give -- but it almost didn’t.

The Sailors blinked once in overtime, giving up one goal in two three-minute overtime periods. It was enough for the Sea Kings to emerge with a 7-6 nonleague victory at Newport Harbor High.

On the crucial play, CdM junior Taylor Harkins inched in on the Sailors’ goal. The Sailors, crashing down on Sea Kings star Camille Hewko at two meters, gave Harkins a little too much room and she scored from outside to give CdM a 7-6 lead with 41 seconds left in the first overtime period.

“I thought she’d throw it into Camille,” CdM Coach Aaron Chaney said. “But we work on that in practice. If they don’t come out to you, shoot it.”

CdM goalkeeper Tumua Anae recorded 14 saves, including four in overtime. Anae made point-blank saves on Calli Manderino and Sarah Roberts in the first overtime period.

“Our goaltending play saved us in a lot of situations,” Chaney said.

The victory was sweet revenge for the Sea Kings, who lost to the Sailors, 6-5, last year at CdM High.

“The last time we beat them was my freshman year,” said Hewko, who had a game-high three goals for the Sea Kings. “We all really wanted it. We were really pumped up.”

The score was tied four times, the last time with 4:16 left in regulation, when Newport’s Kally Lucas scored a power play goal off a pass from Katie Kepner to tie the score, 6-6.

Newport’s Leah Robertson and Manderino hit the post on shots toward the end of regulation.

The Sailors had one last chance in the final seconds of the second overtime period. Hewko was attempting to run out the clock when Lucas stole the ball with four seconds left and heaved a desperation shot from half the length of the pool that sailed wide.

“We were patient on offense and our half-court defense was good,” Chaney said. “But our six-on-five defense almost killed us.”

Newport Harbor was 4 for 8 on the power play.

CdM opened the game by taking a 3-0 lead in the first quarter. Hewko netted two goals from two meters and Ashley Chandler added a goal.

But the Sailors (3-1) stormed back with goals from Marisa Cottam, Robertson and Lucas to tie the score, 3-3, at halftime.

The teams traded power play goals to open the second half, then CdM’s Hewko and Newport Harbor’s Peterson traded goals from two meters. The score was tied, 5-5, going into the fourth period.

The teams resume action next week when they co-host the Holiday Cup Tournament Dec. 29-30.

Nonleague

Corona del Mar 7,

Newport Harbor 6

Score by Quarters