CdM grabs Holiday Cup

NEWPORT BEACH — The outside shot has been there for Margot Money.

On Wednesday, in the Holiday Cup title game, it was just up to the Corona del Mar High junior to put it in the back of the net.

Money delivered, scoring three goals to help CdM defeat Back Bay rival Newport Harbor, 5-3, at Newport Harbor High.

Coach Aaron Chaney said Money has been making the perimeter shots in practice, but they came up big at just the right time in a game situation to help the Sea Kings (10-0) win their second Holiday Cup title in three years.

“Confidence definitely has grown from experience,” said Money, who also scored twice from the outside in an 8-3 semifinal win over Foothill earlier Wednesday. “Last year, I didn’t have as much confidence because I was the younger player. But this year it’s really grown from summer, and all the experience in the night league in fall, to now.”

Seniors Elise Molnar and Leslee Kaczmarek each scored once for CdM, Kaczmarek’s goal breaking a 3-3 tie in the fourth quarter. After a Newport Harbor foul, Kaczmarek scored bar-in from about eight meters out with 2:44 left.

“I haven’t really been making my shots,” Kaczmarek said. “I prayed, basically, that it would go in, and I was really glad it did. It was really exciting. It gave us more energy and just pumped us up way more to finish off hard.”

Money then added her final goal on a power-play strike, the ball deflecting off a Sailors defender and in with 1:35 to go.

The Sailors (5-3) never led the championship game, but battled throughout. They came back from a 3-1 halftime deficit after a six-on-five strike from senior Kathryn Manderino, then another player-advantage goal from junior Katie Jackson with 4:34 left in the game.

Manderino said Newport Harbor was focusing on stopping CdM’s strong set player, senior Victoria Kennedy, but CdM’s outside shooters responded. It was key to the Sea Kings’ success, along with strong defense anchored by senior goalie Kate Baldoni. Last year’s Newport-Mesa Co-Player of the Year made 12 saves, including one on a penalty shot.

“Chaney always says that if people drop off us, then we can shoot from the outside,” Money said. “But, if they press, then we can shoot from set. We have such a well-balanced team this year.”

But Newport Harbor can take positives from the game as well. It was still closer than CdM’s 6-3 victory over Newport Harbor on Dec. 19, despite the fact that Newport Harbor’s top three scorers, senior Nicolina McCall and juniors Kaleigh Gilchrist and Kate Klippert, were all held without a goal this time. Klippert fouled out early in the third quarter.

“I think it just teaches us that we’re playing better and better against them,” Manderino said. “Hopefully we can beat them next time we meet them. Hopefully it’s getting them nervous, because we’re closing the gap on them.”

Emerging junior goalie Krissy Burger was strong all day as well. She made 11 saves against CdM.

Chaney said his team also still has plenty to work on. CdM went two for 11 on power plays; Newport Harbor was three for nine.

“It’s not like, ‘We’ve got it all,’ ” he said. “We don’t have it all. There’s a lot of things we still need to work on.”

Both teams eased into the championship game with dominant semifinal performances. In Newport Harbor’s 9-2 victory over defending tournament champion Dos Pueblos, the Sailors shut the Chargers out for the first 18-plus minutes of the game.

Dos Pueblos was playing without sophomore sensation Kiley Neushul, but the Chargers had still won eight straight games. Their two goals against Newport Harbor were a season-low.

The Chargers finished one for seven in power-play situations, due to stellar defense from Newport Harbor and Burger (12 saves, including one on a five-meter penalty shot).

Offensively, Klippert scored four goals and Gilchrist added three. McCall and Mia Butera had eight and four steals, respectively.

Corona del Mar’s semifinal win against Foothill was tighter early. Knights senior Brittany Zwirner scored a pair of six-on-five goals in the first half, the latter drawing Foothill within 3-2 with 4:59 left in the half.

But the Sea Kings responded with perimeter goals from juniors Money and Victoria Kent to build a 5-2 halftime advantage.

“[Foothill] had the drop, but the girls shot really well,” Chaney said. “And our defense was really good.”

Molnar had three goals and four steals to pace the CdM attack.

Holiday Cup

Championship

Corona del Mar 5, Newport Harbor 3

SCORE BY QUARTERS

CdM – Money 3, Molnar 1, Kaczmarek 1. Saves – Baldoni 12.

NH – Manderino 2, Jackson 1. Saves – Burger 11.

Semifinal

Newport Harbor 9, Dos Pueblos 2

SCORE BY QUARTERS

NH – Klippert 4, Gilchrist 3, Butera 1, McCall 1. Saves – Burger 12.

DP – Schroeder 1, A. Hill 1. Saves – S. Hill 9.

Semifinal

Corona del Mar 8, Foothill 3

SCORE BY QUARTERS

F – Zwirner 2, Porter 1. Saves – Groff 9.

CdM – Molnar 3, Money 2, Kennedy 1, Kent 1, Berry 1. Saves – Baldoni 7.