H.B. boys’ 12-U team qualifies for Jr. Olympics

Water Polo

The Huntington Beach Water Polo Club’s boys’ 12-and-under team has qualified for the upcoming Water Polo Jr. Olympics.

The Water Polo Junior Olympics will be held in Los Angeles July 31 to Aug. 3.

Huntington qualified for the tournament by capturing fifth place last weekend in tournament play at various high schools in the Inland Empire. Sixteen teams vied for the top spots.

Huntington began the qualifying tournament Saturday with wins over United Red (12-4), Laguna Beach (12-7) and Northwood (6-5) at Rancho Cucamonga High.

On Sunday, Huntington downed Irvine-Kahuna (13-10), lost its only game to Orange County Water Polo Club (10-7) and came back to beat United (7-5).

— Janet Duplantier, Community Correspondent

Soccer

HB56 1, Region 517 1: It came down to the last game to decide who would be the Under-14 boys’ champion in AYSO Area K and it was HB56 from Huntington Beach as it held on to finish its season as undefeated champions.

For most of the beginning of the game against Region 517, HB56 controlled the field thanks to midfielders Juan Pablo Murcia, midfielder Drew Young Matthew Malane.

Despite that, Region 517 still took a 1-0 lead.

As the game progressed, Christopher Horner made numerous blazing runs down the right wing, something HB56 came to expect from the winger.

Although HB56 maintained a strong advantage in field position, Region 517 never let up.

Going into the second half, HB56 stepped up its play and attacked relentlessly with Stopper Tommy Machiavello. As the attacks continued, HB56 pounded the goal with strikes from Parker Hauswald who has been producing goals all season, and Colin Douglass, who was relentless all game.

That aggressivenes led to Christopher Horner streaking down the wing again, setting a perfect ball across the top of the box where striker Christian Heffelman finished the job, burying the ball into the back of the net to tie the score at 1.

HB56 finished its season 7-0-1, the only undefeated team in its division. The team gave up the least amount of goals scored (three) in eight games.

— Dennis Taylor, Community Correspondent

Girls’ Under-10 division

The So Cal Infinity Blue Girls’ 99 team won its Spring Cup division championship by defeating Los Alamitos Fury and Corona Eagles in the Flight 1 semifinals and finals games Saturday at the San Bernardino Sports Complex.

Infinity Blue 3, Los Alamitos 2: In a tight semifinal game, Infinity struck in the first 20 seconds of the game when Madi Kline made a cross to Cami McDonnell who scored. In the second half, the Fury scored off a free kick to tie the score at 1.

The teams moved on to penalty kicks to determine the winners. After six shots from both teams, Infinity won, 3-2, with winning shots from Maricarmen Reyes, Isabel Dehakiz and Michael Guptill. Infinity keeper Kelly Smith was solid in goal.

Infinity Blue 3, Corona 1: The division final between Infinity Blue and Corona Eagles was a physical match that saw Infinity prevail.

Infinity struck first with a cross from Mia Richardson to Cami McDonnell, who dribbled around the Corona goalie and shot into the net.

The second Infinity goal came after a free kick as the ball was jostled around in front of the net, bounced off a Corona player and was headed into the goal by Michael Guptill. Infinity led, 2-0, at the half.

— Denise Guptill, Community Correspondent

Infinity Blue 3, North County Pacific 0: Infinity Blue earned its semifinal berth with a shutout victory. In the seventh minute of play, Infinity’s Madison Kline found Camille McDonnell in prime scoring position and McDonnell converted the opportunity for a 1-0 lead.

In the second minute of the second half, Kline found Claire Murray, who guided the ball over a diving Thunder keeper for the score and a 2-0 lead.

In the fourth minute of the half, Isabel Dehakiz sent Murray a well-placed ball and Murray posted her second goal fo the game to make it 3-0.

— David Gomez Jr., Community Correspondent