Girls water polo: CdM splits two

Joseph Boo

CORONA DEL MAR - Host Corona del Mar High’s girls water polo team

defeated University, 11-5, in its first game at the Newport Harbor/Corona

del Mar Tournament on Thursday, but Villa Park stopped the Sea Kings in

the second game, 7-2.

Villa Park (8-3), ranked No. 4 in Orange County in the Coaches’ Poll,

quickly asserted itself with a 1-0 lead on a six-on-five goal in the

first quarter. The lead was extended to 2-0 on another six-on-five in the

second. The Spartans had three six-on-fives opportunities in the first

half and six for the game.

On the flip side, CdM (5-6) had six shots on goal in the first half, but

not one reached Villa Park goalie Cara Colton. The Spartans aggressively

shut down the Sea Kings’ primary offensive option in the two-meter spot.

Hence, CdM was forced to take outside shots.

Villa Park got its first full-strength goal in the third before CdM found

a crack in Villa Park’s defense. After forcing Colton to make her first

save, the Sea Kings got one ball past her, barely though. A shot by Malia

Tarayao straddled the goal line for 10 seconds before creeping across for

the score.

Villa Park’s Kristyan Pulver, who was quiet in the first half, woke up

after CdM’s goal and scored four times to put the game away. Hayley

Hapeman got a six-on-five goal for CdM in the fourth.

CdM goalie Arin Hendrickson made eight saves, and freshman Danielle

Carlson had three steals for CdM’s defense.

In the first game, also at CdM, Hapeman scored three times to lead the

Sea Kings to an 11-5 victory over their Pacific Coast League rival

University.

Carlson, Lauren Guthrie and Christina Hewko scored two goals each in the

win. The Sea Kings will continue play in the tournament at 8 a.m. in

Newport Harbor against the loser of the El Toro-Foothill matchup.

NEWPORT HARBOR/CORONA DEL MAR TOURNAMENT

Villa Park 7, Corona del Mar 2

Villa Park 1 1 3 2 - 7

Corona del Mar 0 0 1 1 - 2

Villa Park: Pulver 4, French 2, Michel 1. Saves: Colton 4.

Corona del Mar: Tarayao 1, Ha. Hapeman 1. Saves: Hendrickson 8.

Corona del Mar 11, University 5 Corona del Mar 4 3 2 2 - 11

University 3 1 1 0 - 5

Corona del Mar scoring: Ha. Hapeman 3, Carlson 2, Guthrie 2, Hewko 2,

Daley 1, Tucker 1. Saves: na.