Newland gets a headache despite Newport A’s win

Steve Virgen

CORONA DEL MAR - A 9-5 victory over a college club team hardly

pleased Newport Harbor Water Polo Foundation Coach Ted Newland Friday

in the Senior Nationals at Corona del Mar High. Newland said he saw

his ‘A’ team, “put up bad shots, and (Bruin) almost took full

advantage of that. (Newport A) played just as bad as the B.”

Newport A still managed to win its group, collecting easy

victories over Lion (Loyola Marymount) and Paradise (UC Santa

Barbara) Thursday, and holding on for the 9-5 decision over Bruin

(UCLA). Nevertheless, Newland was a bit surprised Newport made so

many mistakes against Bruin. He expects the team to rebound today,

when Newport A takes on Golden Bear A (UC Berkeley) at 11 a.m. at

CdM. Newport A will be without Newland, who will coach his B team,

which lost twice Friday, at Newport Harbor High today.

“(Newport A) didn’t play smart,” Newland said. “They didn’t go to

their strengths. They live and die with the best frontcourt and their

defense. But, they got tired and let UCLA counter. We should have

played with a lot more patience. Sometimes, these guys get screwed up

(as Newport B).”

For the first time in the Senior Nationals, Newport A trailed in a

game, when Bruin’s Matt Flesher scored after three minutes spent.

However, U.S. National Team two-meter man Ryan Bailey answered

quickly with a goal from set, 20 seconds after Flesher’s strike.

Before the first quarter ended, Marc Hunt, the UCI water polo

assistant coach, connected on a penalty shot after Jeff Powers drew

the four-meter foul. Powers, a U.S. National Team two-meter man who

will be a senior at UCI in the fall, finished with one goal, while

Bailey led with three, and Omar Amr and Mike Evans scored two each.

Newport extended its lead to 5-2, after its 3-1 run in the second

quarter. Bailey took the pass from Powers and scored from set for a

3-1 lead. Then, less than a minute later, Dan Klatt blocked a shot,

goalie Genai Kerr retrieved the loose ball and that began Newport’s

counterattack. It ended with a Bailey goal.

Powers closed out Newport’s scoring run with a goal from two

meters out for the 5-2 lead.

“When they have to play well, they will play very well,” Newland

said of his Newport squad. “They didn’t look past this game or they

didn’t have trouble getting up for it. They just know they can

out-physical and outsmart all these teams (in the first two days), so

that’s going to bring us wins, regardless.”

Bruin came as close as, 6-5, after outscoring Newport, 2-1, in the

third quarter. Former Newport Harbor High standout Peter Belden

capped the third quarter with a smooth pass to fellow Bruin Josh

Hewko, with 39 seconds left. Bruin also includes CdM products Mike

March and Garrett Bowlus.

Newport outscored Bruin, 3-0, in the fourth, displaying a sound

press defense, which resulted in successful counterattacks.

“Once we were able to press, we started to take over,” said Kerr,

who recorded 12 saves. “Klatt’s guarding in the two-meter also

allowed us to attack offensively. (Bruin) showed that they are in

good shape. They were fast and they were ready and pumped up for this

game.”

Meanwhile, Newport B suffered two setbacks Friday, 8-7 to Malibu,

and 8-5 to Golden Bear A. There were five ties in the game against

Malibu, including 7-7, in the fourth. Malibu scored the deciding goal

with 3:15 remaining. Dreason Barry led with three goals, while

Garrett Gentry added two and Dan Noon and Phil Garcia posted one each

in one of the best games of the day.

Golden Bear collected nine steals and Russell Bernstein recorded

10 saves to stuff Newport B. Barry scored three goals, and Noon and

Rick Merlo finished with one each.

In another exciting game in the Senior Nationals, defending

champion New York Athletic A defeated Stanford Water Polo Foundation,

6-5. Former CdM Coach John Vargas coaches the Stanford team. New

York, which features five U.S. National Team members, stopped

Stanford on two man-advantage situations in the fourth quarter and

held on for the 6-5 win. Stanford possesses three U.S. National Team

members.