CdM seeks fifth straight section crown

It might be its last CIF Southern Section playoff game at the Division II level and the Corona del Mar High girls’ water polo team is hoping it is a challenging one.

The Sea Kings advanced to the Division II championship game tonight at 7:30 at Belmont Plaza by dismantling three playoff opponents by a 49-6 margin.

The last victim was Palos Verdes, which the top-seeded Sea Kings thumped, 17-3, in the semifinals on Friday.

Villa Park (25-7), which upset No. 3-seeded Mira Costa in the semifinals, will be tonight’s opponent.

The Sea Kings defeated the Spartans, 11-4, on Jan. 27. Since then, Villa Park has run off a streak of seven consecutive wins.

Coronal del Mar Coach Aaron Chaney said there is a 75% chance the Pacific Coast League, in which the Sea Kings compete, will make the move up to Division I next year.

During the season, the move would not be a significant change because the Sea Kings already play plenty of Division I opponents.

But Division I playoff competition would feature more consistent challenges.

Corona del Mar is bidding for its fifth straight section title ? having won the last three in Division II after claiming a Division IV crown in 2002.

Chaney said Villa Park should give his team its biggest postseason challenge.

“[The Spartans] shoot really well,” Chaney said. “They have a couple of good players.

“I don’t think you need to motivate [the CdM players] for this game. It has been tough to motivate them the past two weeks because we have had so many lopsided games. I keep telling them ‘Any team can win on any given day.’ Then they go out and beat a team, 17-3. It’s getting to be like crying wolf.”

If anyone can motivate Corona del Mar, it is Chaney, CdM senior Camille Hewko said.

“He’s always posting motivational quotes,” she said. “Everyday we like to discuss our goals.”

One of the Sea Kings’ goals tonight will be to shut down sophomore Cassie Churnside, a left-hander who had three goals and three assists against Mira Costa.

Churnside also scored three goals in the Jan. 27 meeting with Corona del Mar.

“[The Spartans] are playing well,” Chaney said. “I don’t think they have lost since the SoCal invite.”

CdM senior goalie Tumua Anae is playing for the third section title of her varsity career. “We know if we play our game, we’ll be able to win,” Anae said.

The Sea Kings’ game this season has included improved passing, Chaney said.

“Last year we weren’t that good at passing,” Chaney said. “This year we spent a lot of time working on passing. Resistance bands, throwing tennis balls. We spent a half-hour a day working on passing.”

Though some might think winning a CIF title is becoming old had at CdM, Chaney said this team would savor a fifth championship just as enthusiastically as his last four squads have.

“They’re just as excited as the group four years ago,” Chaney said. “We try not to talk about winning so much. We talk about improving and our effort. It’s about how far you have come since the season started.”

dpt-cdmwpre27.IMGGraphicInfo311ODHF320060227311ODHF3No Captiondpt.27-polo-3-CPhotoInfo8F1ODH6M20060227iujqjkncMARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Senior goalie Tumua Anae has anchored the defense all season for the Corona del Mar High girls’ water polo team. The Sea Kings face Villa Park tonight at 7:30 in the CIF Southern Section Division II championship game at Belmont Plaza.