Barry dominates in Newport B victory

Steve Virgen

Dreason Barry, the 6-foot-9, 210-pound two-meter man of UC

Irvine’s future, proved to be the center of attention in the Newport

Harbor Water Polo Foundation ‘B’ team’s 9-2 victory over DeAnza in

the Senior Nationals at Corona del Mar High Thursday. And, to think,

Barry is relatively a rookie in the sport.

Barry, who will be a sophomore at UCI in the fall, scored five

goals and displayed the raw talent that excites his coach, Ted

Newland.

“He just keeps getting better,” Newland said of Barry, who is from

Eugene, Ore.. “He came out of nowhere, really. He’s a great athlete

and he’s getting stronger. A few years from now, he’s going to be big

time. He still has a lot of learning to do.”

After a slow start, Barry and fellow UCI teammate Garrett Gentry

led Newport to a 5-0 lead in the first half. Barry drew an ejection

and later finished with the goal on the six-on-five with 3:22

remaining in the first. In the second, Gentry scored 27 seconds into

the quarter. Then, after Newport goalie Doug Finfrock recorded a

steal, he fed Phil Garcia on the counterattack. Garcia went to Gentry

and Gentry dished to Barry, who muscled his way in set and fired for

a 3-0 lead.

“I’ve improved a lot,” Barry said of his rise from last year to

this summer. “I’m a lot stronger than I used to be. I came in here

and I was getting pushed around. But, I’ve been working out. I’m more

confident and I’m ready to learn more.”

Gentry contributed three goals, while Dan Noon added one and

Finfrock led the defense with six saves. Newport used aggressive

counterattacks and took advantage of DeAnza’s mistakes.

“They were inexperienced and they had several mental errors,”

Newland said of DeAnza. “There’s no secret in this world that it’s

the work you put in and then you see the results. You have to put in

the time and work together. That’s what it’s all about for (UCI).”

Barry’s workmanlike off-season has brought excitement for the

upcoming season. Barry is anxious to play with Jeff Powers, a U.S.

National Team member who redshirted last season and will return for

his senior year in the fall.

“(Powers) will open up our offense,” Barry said. “He helps a lot

and he makes the other team change their game.”

Powers, who is playing with Newport’s ‘A’ squad, is one of the

best two-meter men in the nation, Newland said.

Newport’s B team will take on Malibu Waves (Pepperdine), which

features standout Jesse Smith, today at 10 a.m. at CdM.