Sea Kings take the fifth

Before setting foot in the pool, Corona del Mar High had an advantage over Villa Park in the CIF Southern Section Division II championship game Monday at Belmont Plaza.

It went beyond talent ? which the girls’ water polo team demonstrated after jumping in the pool ? into the film room, where CdM studied its opponents’ weakness, the regular season when the Sea Kings played Division I opponents, and previous seasons, when the three-time defending Division II champions faced playoff pressure.

The top-seeded Sea Kings (28-3) used experience and knowledge of their opponent to take advantage of opportunities, while unseeded Villa Park (25-8) could not, allowing CdM to win its fifth consecutive section title, 11-4.

CdM senior Tumua Anae had 12 saves in three periods and senior teammate Camille Hewko led the offense with three goals.

“I just wanted to play my best,” Hewko said. “Three goals just came with it.”

When opportunity presented itself, it was CdM that rose to the occasion. The Sea Kings were a perfect 2 for 2 on penalty shots and scored all three times with a player advantage.

Villa Park, on the other hand, missed its only penalty shot and scored twice in six player-advantage opportunities, but was 0 for 4 through the first three periods when Anae was minding the net.

It took the Sea Kings fewer than 30 combined seconds to score their three player-advantage goals.

“I don’t think they were strong in the goal,” CdM Coach Aaron Chaney said. “That is where they were weakest.”

For CdM, another championship was a perfect way to send off seven seniors: Anae, Hewko, Chelsea Lyman, who scored once, Ashley Chandler, who had two goals, Kathryn Bilder, Amy Zucker and Briana Galloway.

“We were really excited,” Anae said. “We were so pumped up. Every time we saw each other in the halls [Monday] we smiled. I love them and I’m going to miss them. It’s nice to go out on top. It’s the only way to go.”

Chaney, who is in his fifth year at the helm of CdM and is now 20-0 in playoff games, said this corps of seniors was different.

“They’re a great group of kids,” he said. “They are role models for the younger players. They’re leaders. They were able to pass that on because it was passed to them. This senior class was a little tighter with the younger group.”

And the younger group performed well under the championship spotlight. Juniors Katie Indvik and Sarah Hutchison each scored twice. Junior Cari Levine also had a goal.

“We were practicing for their defense,” said Indvik, who knew CdM had the title after leading 6-1 at halftime. “We were prepared.”

Junior Kate Murphy played goalie in the final period, notching two saves.

Late in the period, Murphy faced a one-on-one with Villa Parks’ top player, Cassie Churnside, and made the save.

“I didn’t think. I was just reacting,” Murphy said. “The team played with a lot of heart. The team really helped me out on defense.”

Freshman Kate Baldoni also made one save for the Sea Kings.

The CdM defense took firm grasp of the championship after Villa Park scored 90 seconds into the game. The Spartans would not score for another 20 minutes.

Every time the ball came inside to Churnside, who scored the first goal, the Sea Kings swarmed to her.

“She’s there best player, really their only player,” Chaney said. “We were trying to collapse on her when she got the ball.”

With a possible move up to Division I and rule changes ? players will be allowed to shoot when fouled outside five meters instead of seven ? Chaney said his team will continue to succeed.

“We beat everybody we played this year,” Chaney said. That included the team’s which play for the Division I championship tonight, Newport Harbor and Montebello.