Young Sailors feel fine with third place

NEWPORT BEACH — The Newport Harbor High boys’ water polo team wasn’t down after its 8-4 loss to El Toro on Saturday morning in the South Coast Tournament semifinals.

The Sailors (6-1) had already clinched a top-four finish — their goal coming into the tournament. But they also came back strong for the third-place game, topping Servite, 5-3, at Newport Harbor High.

“El Toro has more depth and more seniors, but I think we’re right there with them,” Sailors Coach Jason Lynch said. “It really matters if we beat El Toro in [the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs], not now. But it’s a great game for us to learn from. I think we made some good adjustments in the Servite game.”

The third-place game, against the defending CIF Division II champion Friars, was a struggle early for Newport Harbor. Servite’s Andrew LaForge scored in the very first minute of the game, and that goal stood up for a 1-0 halftime lead.

Newport Harbor’s Colin McKibbin had his first-quarter shot go off the post, and two-meter player Riley Hayes had a close second-quarter chance that was blocked by Servite goalie Andrew Mesesan.

But Lynch said he wasn’t worried with his team down at halftime.

“They can stay with us in the first half,” Lynch said. “It doesn’t look like we’re doing anything, but we’re really tiring them out. That’s important.”

It showed in the third quarter, when the Sailors’ Brandon Parole scored consecutive goals on counterattacks. The first goal featured a precise pass from Clinton Jorth, who was straight in front of the goal, to Parole, who beat Mesesan at the near post.

“Clinton timed it just right with a couple of fakes on top,” Parole said. “It usually works just right. We really create our offense off our defense, because one of our main priorities is our counterattack.”

After a Servite goal early in the fourth quarter tied the score, Newport Harbor took control. Hayes’ goal, assisted on a centering pass from Jorth, gave the Sailors a 3-2 lead with just over five minutes left in the game.

Blake Hockenbury’s goal less than two minutes later gave Newport Harbor a 4-2 lead, but Servite’s Mason Cox scored on a power play to cut the lead in half.

With 32 seconds remaining, however, Jorth provided the clincher when his turnaround, spinning shot in front of the goal went in.

Sailors goalie Bryce McLain, who made 10 saves in the game, often started the counterattack with his long throws toward the Servite side of the pool.

Lynch said he was proud of his young team. Newport Harbor has five seniors. Last year, it had 10 seniors who led the Sailors to the CIF Southern Section Division I championship game before losing to Long Beach Wilson.

The Sailors also lost to Wilson in the title game of last year’s South Coast Tournament.

“We were second last year, and this year we’re third,” Lynch said. “To lose 10 seniors and still finish third, I’m pretty proud of them.”

El Toro won the championship game Saturday, beating Northwood, 11-9.

South Coast Tournament

Third-place game

Newport Harbor 5, Servite 3

Score by Quarters

Servite 1

0

0

2

—

3

NH

0

0

2

3

— 5

Servite -- LaForge 1, Bevins 1, Cox 1. Saves -- Mesesan 6.

Newport Harbor -- Parole 2, R. Hayes 1, Hockenbury 1, Jorth 1. Saves -- McLain 10.