Chiapuzio keeps Tars alive

MISSION VIEJO — Jillian Chiapuzio had sprinted to the middle of the pool six previous times, but the seventh would be the most important.

It was the seventh period-starting sprint, at the start of sudden-death overtime, that would give her Newport Harbor High girls’ water polo team a chance to survive another day.

Chiapuzio, a senior, won the sprint. Then, she won the game, scoring 36 seconds into the overtime to lead the Sailors to a 5-4 win over Santa Margarita in a CIF Southern Section Division I quarterfinal Tuesday at Saddleback College.

And, after the game, one of the shortest members of the Sailors stood the tallest.

“To win this is like everything,” Chiapuzio said. “It’s another step toward our goal. We knew that we had to put everything we’ve got into this game.”

Sarah Roberts scored four goals for Newport Harbor (20-9). The defending Division I champions advance to play No. 1-seeded Foothill in the semifinals Friday at Irvine High.

Foothill beat Long Beach Millikan, 13-6, in another quarterfinal Tuesday.

After Chiapuzio won the last sprint for the Tars, Roberts’ straightaway shot was blocked out of play by Santa Margarita goalie Stephanie Peckham, giving Newport Harbor the ball back. Mimi Bury found Chiapuzio on the right side, and her shot deflected off a defender but went into the cage.

It capped an impressive game for Newport Harbor, which was down, 2-0, late in the first half against Santa Margarita (15-14). The Eagles had also beaten Newport Harbor, 5-3, in a nonleague game Jan. 26 at Saddleback.

“I don’t think they played their best water polo that day,” Santa Margarita Coach Kevin Ricks said. “I knew this was going to be a knock-down, drag-out fight.”

And it was. Roberts scored 21 seconds before halftime to trim the lead to 2-1.

“Sarah’s shot was really a boost of momentum,” Bury said. “Also, by switching sides, the sun wasn’t in our eyes. Everything was smoother after half.”

Roberts scored again just 18 seconds into the third period, then, late in the third, Chiapuzio made another key play. After Newport Harbor had killed off a power play, goalie Morgan Vickers (four saves) found her on a breakaway.

Chiapuzio was fouled, earning a five-meter penalty shot, which Roberts put away to give the Sailors a 3-2 advantage heading into the fourth.

“In terms of giving the team a real lift, I thought that was a fantastic effort on [Chiapuzio’s] part,” Newport Coach Bill Barnett said.

Roberts scored again early in the fourth to extend the lead, but Santa Margarita scored two quick goals by Kacey Anderson and Ashley Novack to knot the score again. One came on the power play, and one after a six-on-five had just ended.

But the Eagles, who had won 11 of their previous 12 games, would be held scoreless the rest of the way.

“It was the whole team, defensively, that won this game,” Roberts said. “All the girls did really well, especially Allyssa [Peterson] guarding set. We think defense more than offense, because if you don’t let the other team score goals, you’ll win.”

Peterson had five steals, and Chiapuzio, Bury and Marisa Cottam all added two for the Sailors, who now begin preparing for Foothill.

The Knights (27-1) were dealt their only loss of the season by Newport, 4-3, in the semifinals of the Holiday Cup on Dec. 30.

“We’ve beat them once; we can beat them again,” Roberts said. “Since we’re doing so well on defense right now, I see no problem. I know it’s going to be tough, but I think we’ll pull through.”

CIF Southern Section Division I PlayoffsQuarterfinal

Newport Harbor 5,

Santa Margarita 4 (sudden-death OT)

Score by Periods

Newport 0 1 2 1 0 0 1 — 5

S. Margarita 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 — 4

Newport Harbor -- Roberts 4, Chiapuzio 1. Saves -- Vickers 4.

Santa Margarita -- Anderson 2, Novack 1, Beck 1. Saves -- Peckham 11.