Hard-earned win for Sailors

Bryce Alderton

The Newport Harbor High girls water polo team, even though no players

actually heard the words, tried its best to live up to the praise

Huntington Beach Coach Peter Muller bestowed prior to the schools’

CIF Southern Section Division I first-round contest Thursday.

Before the game, Muller called the Sailors the “best team” in the

division, specifically citing their strength and quickness.

Newport, seeded second and the reigning Division I champion,

displayed both traits against the visiting Oilers and strolled to a

15-2 victory under intermittent showers.

The Sailors (25-3) will face Long Beach Millikan (21-8), which

defeated San Clemente, 9-7, Thursday, in a quarterfinal at 3:15 p.m.

Tuesday. A coin flip today will determine the site.

Newport, which went undefeated (5-0) in winning its second

straight Sea View League title, exploded for eight goals in the

second quarter against the Oilers (17-10) to secure a 13-1 halftime

advantage and give the starters a rest for the entire second half.

A strong counterattack helped the Sailors score four goals in a

span of 1 minute, 41 seconds to close the half.

Senior Anne Belden tallied a game-high four goals and three steals

while senior Ashling Taylor and junior Kally Lucas each found the

back of the cage three times for Newport. Teammate Leah Robertson

scored two goals to go with four assists and two steals.

The Sailors entered the game as heavy favorites, but Taylor, who

has now scored 72 goals this season -- second to Belden’s 80, said

they weren’t taking anything for granted.

“We’re taking [the CIF playoffs] more serious,” said Taylor, who

added two steals and one assist. “Against [Huntington Beach], we had

more counterattack shots. We worked on our passing, dropping [on

defense] and communication, not letting the ball get out.”

Pressurized player-to-player defense keyed several Sailor breaks.

Both of Robertson’s steals resulted in Belden goals. In the second

quarter, Robertson reached around and knocked the ball from an

opponent’s hand along the perimeter. She then fired to Belden, who

flicked the ball airborne into the goal for a 10-1 Newport lead with

2:25 left.

Fifty seconds later, Lucas, who tallied three assists, forced one

of her two steals and sent an outlet pass to senior Melissa Wheeler,

who softly lobbed the ball over Oiler goalkeeper Lauren Reilly for an

11-1 lead.

The Oilers often ran an unconventional offensive set with four

players dotting the perimeter and two spread near both posts, ideally

to set screens near the cage, Muller said.

The Sailors, though, snuffed out their intentions.

“If we have a hard press, it helps utilize everyone and gives us a

stronger offense,” Wheeler said.

Katie Kepner and Marisa Cottam also added to the offense with one

goal apiece in the second half while Bryndis Klein tallied two

assists.

Kendal Nelson and Elizabeth Layton made three and seven saves in

the first and second halves, respectively, for the Sailors.

CIF Division I

First round

Newport Harbor 15,

Huntington Beach 2

Score by Quarters

*--*

H.B. 1 0 0 1 -- 2

Newport 5 8 1 1 -- 15

*--*

H.B. -- Hybl 2. Saves -- Reilly 1.

Newport -- Belden 4, Taylor 3, Lucas 3, Robertson 2, Wheeler 1,

Cottam 1, Kepner 1. Saves -- Layton 4, Nelson 2.