Back Bay powers size up next victims

Barry Faulkner

Back Bay girls water polo bullies Newport Harbor High and Corona del

Mar continue their postseason procession today with CIF Southern

Section quarterfinal playoff matchups in their respective divisions.

The Sailors (25-3), seeded No. 2 in Division I, are at home

against Millikan of Long Beach (21-8) for a 3:15 clash.

Corona del Mar (21-7), the No. 1 seed in Division II, will play

host to El Dorado (13-14) at 3:15 p.m.

Newport Harbor, the reigning CIF Division I champion, extended its

postseason winning streak to five with a 15-2 first-round trouncing

of Huntington Beach Thursday.

Coach Bill Barnett’s Sailors, the Sea View League champions, have

not faced Millikan, the Moore League runner-up, this season. The

Tars, however, have won all three matches against Moore League

champion Long Beach Wilson in 2004-05.

CdM, bidding for its fourth straight CIF title, its third

consecutive Division II crown (after claiming the Division IV top

prize in 2002), have not met El Dorado this season.

Coach Aaron Chaney’s Sea Kings, however, have a playoff history

with the Golden Hawks. CdM defeated El Dorado, 11-6, in the Division

IV final in 2002, Chaney’s first season at the helm.

CdM’s 13-2 first-round romp over Savanna extended the program’s

postseason winning streak to 13. During that stretch, the

six-time-defending Pacific Coast League champions have outscored

opponents, 165-64, and have not had an opponent come closer than

three goals (a 7-4 quarterfinal win over Villa Park last season).

The Sea Kings’ first-round win came without standouts Camille

Hewko (resting a bothersome shoulder) and Katlin Kubas (just

resting).

Hewko, a junior who shared Pacific Coast League MVP honors last

season, as well as Kubas, a senior, are expected back in the lineup

today.

Hewko’s 41 goals this season rank third on the team, behind junior

second-team All-CIF returner Jordan Anae (64) and sophomore Katie

Indvik (44).

The Sea Kings are also led by senior goalie Brittany Fullen. The

CIF Division II Player of the Year and league Co-MVP as a junior,

Fullen had 208 regular-season saves this season.

Newport Harbor is paced offensively by seniors Anne Belden and

Ashling Taylor.

Belden, a first-team All-CIF honoree as a junior, has 80 goals

this season, including a game-high four in the first-round win.

Taylor, a second-team All-CIF choice a year ago, has 72 goals this

season.

The Sailors’ defense is anchored by alternating goalies Kendal

Nelson and Elizabeth Layton. Nelson, a senior, has 102 saves this

season while Layton, a junior, has 104.

If victorious today, Newport Harbor would meet either No. 3-seeded

Montebello or Los Alamitos in Friday’s semifinals. Montebello and Los

Al play today at Newport Harbor.

A win today would propel CdM into Friday’s semifinals against

either No. 4-seeded Sunny Hills or Peninsula.