Sailors caught in another storm

Bryce Alderton

It all happened so fast.

Before the Newport Harbor High girls’ water polo team could get

back to defend, a Foothill player, usually USC-bound Brittany Hayes,

had already swam the length of the pool to receive a pass and score a

goal.

Foothill scored six of its 10 goals on the counterattack in a 10-4

victory at Tustin High Wednesday in a steady rain. The victory is

Foothill’s fourth in as many tries this season against Harbor, which

secured the school’s first Sea View League championship in its

inaugural campaign in the league.

“We were pumped up about this game and wanted to show everyone we

could do it,” said Hayes, who finished with three goals, two steals

and two assists. “Everyone was ready to play today and that’s what it

comes down to.”

Foothill goalkeeper Emily Feher, a member of the U.S. national

team and headed to UCLA, maintained her stellar play against the Tars

(21-5) with seven saves, four steals and two assists -- to Hayes and

Kaitlin Prijatel -- in a three-goal fourth period.

“She is the best goalie out there and makes incredible passes,”

Hayes said of Feher.

The Knights connected on 3 of 6 on the man-advantage while the

Sailors had no advantage at all on four opportunities.

“We sat there and didn’t react to anything,” said the Tars’ Anne

Belden, who had a team-leading two goals with two steals. “They

countered a lot and we weren’t ready for it.”

The Sailors tied the Knights, 1-1, early on as Jenna Murphy score

on a four-meter penalty shot after Paige Lansing drew an ejection.

A Belden goal with 5:06 left in the half was Newport’s next score

to tie it at 2-2, but Foothill answered with four straight goals.

The Knights entered the third quarter with a four-goal bulge, but

Newport Harbor did not wilt. Carolyn Conway took a pass from Annie

Wight in set and scored Newport’s third goal, and 1:02 later, Belden

struck from two meters on a pass from Murphy to make it, 6-4.

But with 38 seconds to go in the third period, Wight drew her

third penalty leading to an ejection for the rest of the game. Hayes

took advantage, swimming the length of the pool and putting a spin

move on a defender to score Foothill’s seventh goal. Newport couldn’t

cut into the lead in the fourth period.

Jessica Ball added an assist and goalkeeper Terin Cottam made four

saves.

While there is still a lot of water between events, the Sailors

(20-5) and the undefeated Knights (26-0) could face each other in the

CIF Southern Section Division I finals at Belmont Plaza.

“I think we’ll be ready to counterattack and set up a lot more

Belden said. “We need to work on the counterattack and apply more

pressure to them.”

*--*

Sea View League

Foothill 10, Newport

Score by Quarters

Newport 1 1 2 0 -- 4

Foothill 4 2 1 3 -- 10

Newport -- Belden 2, Conway 1, Murphy 1. Saves --

Cottam, 4. Foothill -- Hayes 3, Domanic 3,

Prijatel 2, Reynolds 1, Kraus 1. Saves -- Feher,

7. Redaelli, 1 *--*