Holiday Cup field features top teams

holiday cup polo tourney advanceCorona del Mar, Newport Harbor and Foothill are among the powerhouses in local water polo tournament.The field for the Holiday Cup Tournament -- a varsity girls’ water polo event hosted by Corona del Mar High and Newport Harbor High -- is daunting.

Of the 16 teams in the tournament, 10 are ranked in the CIF Southern Section and another -- Carlsbad -- is a San Diego powerhouse.

Corona del Mar (4-0) enters the tournament on a high note after beating Back Bay rival Newport Harbor, 7-6, in overtime Dec. 21. Corona del Mar’s Camille Hewko netted three goals and Taylor Harkins scored the game-winner in the first overtime period.

First-year varsity starter Tumua Anae made 14 saves in goal, including a few from point-blank range in overtime, to preserve the victory for the Sea Kings.

“Winning a game like that gives us confidence going into the tournament,” Corona del Mar Coach Aaron Chaney said.

Chaney said he can envision what the late-round matchups could be if the Sea Kings go all the way.

“We’ll probably see Carlsbad in the semis and then Foothill,” he said.

Newport Harbor won last year’s tournament. The Sailors defeated Santa Barbara, 7-6, in the semifinals on a goal by Kally Lucas in sudden death. In the final, Newport Harbor defeated Foothill, 5-3, in overtime. Anne Belden netted the game-winner 10 seconds into the second overtime period.

Group A -- which plays at Newport Harbor High -- includes Santa Margarita (ranked No. 3 in Division I), Newport Harbor (No. 2 in Division I), Santa Barbara (No. 3 in Division IV), Long Beach Wilson (No. 7 in Division I), Edison (No. 5 in Division I), Peninsula (No. 4 in Division II), Sunny Hills (No. 6 in Division II) and Poway.

Newport Harbor (3-1) opens the tournament against Peninsula on Thursday at 10:40 a.m.

Group B -- which plays at Corona del Mar High -- includes Foothill (No. 1 in Division I), Corona del Mar (No. 1 in Division II), Carlsbad, Huntington Beach, Tustin (No. 5 in Division II), University, Santa Ynez and Beckman.

The championship game is slated for 4:05 p.m. Friday at Newport Harbor.