Girls’ Water Polo: Sailors claim round 2 against CdM
Both times that the Newport Harbor High girls’ water polo team has played rival Corona del Mar this season, junior attacker Katie Kearns has scored the Sailors’ last goal.
Kearns is not really known as the first option on a team with more heralded, college-committed seniors.
But all the Sailors know is that they’re glad to have a weapon like her to bring to the Battle of the Bay.
She scored a game-high four goals Saturday, including the game-winner with 13 seconds left in overtime, as the Sailors beat the Sea Kings, 7-6, for third place at the Holiday Cup tournament at Newport Harbor High.
The win was the second of the year for Newport Harbor (6-3) against CdM (4-3), which could prove crucial when the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoff seedings are announced next month.
“It’s always good to beat CdM,” Newport Coach Bill Barnett said. “I think it helps us overall in the seeding race, so to speak. You don’t want to be [matched] with Laguna [Beach in the semifinals].”
Both Back Bay schools know that it’s not too early to think about that. Teams seeded fourth or fifth could face defending CIF champion Laguna Beach in the semifinals. Newport Harbor is currently ranked No. 3 in Division 1, one spot ahead of CdM.
Laguna Beach also defended its Holiday Cup title by defeating Foothill, 13-3, in the championship game, running its winning streak to 30 straight matches.
The Breakers beat Newport Harbor for the second time this season, 7-3, in the first tournament semifinal. Foothill denied CdM, 11-9, in overtime in the second semifinal.
Kearns then stepped up in the third-place match against a Back Bay rival.
“We work really well as a team together,” Kearns said. “There’s not just one great player. We all work together, and that’s how we win games.”
Kearns’ strike from six meters out in the first overtime period gave the Sailors a 6-5 advantage. It was her third goal of the game. She also scored in the second and third quarters, both times assisted by Ellie Reid.
CdM answered in overtime on a nice backhand goal by center Bridget Storm, assisted by fellow junior Maddie Musselman.
But Newport had a response late in the second overtime period. Senior captain Kate Pipkin was fouled outside five meters and flipped the ball to Kearns on her right. With the shot clock running down, Kearns’ cross-cage shot from about six meters went into the lower left corner, giving the Sailors the lead.
Musselman’s attempt in the closing seconds was field-blocked by Newport senior defender Rachel Whitelegge.
CdM Coach Ross Sinclair did not like losing to his alma mater for the second time this season, the first a 5-4 setback in the nonleague Battle of the Bay game on Dec. 19. But he recognized the Sailors’ strength.
“[Kearns] stepped up, which was awesome,” Sinclair said. “That’s a team that has a lot of solid, superstar-type players, and it was great to see that. She earned it. That’s a signature Newport team. There’s always the three or four marquee players, and it’s always the fifth and sixth player that comes in and does the special stuff in the big-time games.”
Newport senior center Chanel Schilling concluded her strong tournament with two goals and senior defender Isabel Leveque scored once for the Sailors, while senior goalie Carlee Kapana made 13 saves.
Senior co-captain Eliza Britt scored twice for CdM, while Musselman, Storm, senior center Kaybree Albright and sophomore defender Sarah Lawson added goals. Junior goalie Heidi Ritner made a season-high 15 saves.
But the Sea Kings went just two for nine in power-play opportunities. Newport Harbor converted two of five such chances.
“That’s better than the last game [against Newport], when we went one for nine,” Sinclair said. “We’re slowly getting there ... It’s early [in the season]. It’s really early. We’ve got an opportunity to go to work next week and the following week, and really prepare for [the] Santa Barbara [Tournament of Champions on Jan. 16-17]. That could change it all. We could have a good run up there, and this will be a distant memory. I’m happy with where we’re at.”
Britt led CdM with five goals in the semifinal loss to Foothill. Musselman scored twice, while Storm and senior Grace Morgan had one goal each.
Pipkin, Kearns and Schilling all scored once for the Sailors in their semifinal loss against Laguna Beach, which was as close as 2-1 late in the third quarter before the Breakers pulled away.
“I think offensively we were having some problems,” Barnett said. “I don’t think our attackers were doing the job they’re capable of doing ... but I’m very happy and pleased [with the tournament]. We’ve got a lot of room for improvement, but we’re on our way.”
Newport Harbor plays host to Los Alamitos, ranked No. 5 in Division 1, in a key Sunset League opener Wednesday at 5 p.m. The Griffins, who won the league last year, did not play in the Holiday Cup.
Kearns said she believes the Sailors come into the showdown with momentum after beating CdM again.
“Winning one Battle of the Bay is obviously great,” Kearns said. “But the second time winning, that’s even a better feeling, knowing that you can still hold them down.”
Twitter: @mjszabo
