Mustangs blow past Estancia

COSTA MESA — A year ago the result would have put the Costa Mesa High girls’ water polo team on track to compete for a league title and Estancia digging itself out of a hole.

Now both schools are in the four-team Orange Coast League, playing league opponents twice instead of once like other leagues in the Southern Section. The Mustangs’ 9-2 victory over the Eagles at Costa Mesa Wednesday, in both teams’ league opener, was just one small step for the Mustangs over the six-game league season.

For Estancia it provided fodder for when the two teams meet in the Eagles’ home pool Jan. 24.

Costa Mesa improved to 3-6, 1-0 in league, while the Eagles fell to 8-4, 0-1.

The victory gave Mustangs’ Coach Tim Postiff confidence his Division II team had gained more than it had lost in playing a rigorous preseason schedule, which featured Mira Costa and Dana Hills, both ranked in the top 10 of Division II.

“I want the girls to see what it’s like to play tough competition,” Postiff said.

Costa Mesa goalkeeper Brittany Mucha recorded seven saves in the game, earning praise from Postiff.

“It’s nice to have her back there,” Postiff said. “She played one of her best games of the season.”

Mucha said her ability to consistently make diving and leaping saves, shutting the Eagles out in the second and third periods, was mainly reaction.

“I’m just working hard and trying to make the best of my senior year,” Mucha said. “When a shot comes I’m thinking ‘I better make this save, the team needs me to make this save.’ We did really well. This is a big rivalry. We just need to work hard and focus. We’re going to work on a few things. We’re trying to improve our defense and shot selection.”

The Mustangs’ offense was balanced with five players scoring goals. Talhia Nuñez, a junior, led the way with four goals.

“I just like to work on my drive, drive all the way in,” Nuñez said. “That’s what I like to do the most. Usually it will be there if I communicate.”

Senior Abbie Dyvig had two goals for Costa Mesa, while Brianna Williams, Shyra Crandall and sophomore Ashley Rendon had a goal apiece.

“We were definitely nervous but they haven’t beat us in awhile,” Nuñez said. “We played really good defensively. We’ve been working on our lanes the past week and that has really helped us.”

Estancia Coach Bob Bandaruk said a majority of his team was recovering from illness and he expects them to rebound after a three-week break.

“They all have been sick, but I don’t know if we had everybody healthy if we would have been able to beat them,” Bandaruk said. “They just wanted it more than we did. We need to work on our accuracy. We were passing when people weren’t looking.”

Emily Kaplan made eight saves, while Melissa Buchmann and Amber Peters each scored for Estancia.

“The girls are very capable of beating them,” Bandaruk said. “Our junior varsity team hasn’t lost. I’m going to look at some of the JV kids to see if they can take any varsity spots. We have another shot at them at home. If we can win, that will help even things out.”

Orange Coast League

Costa Mesa 9, Estancia 2

Score by Quarters

Estancia 1 0 0 1 — 2 Costa Mesa 2 2 2 3 — 9

Estancia -- Buchmann 1, Peters 1. Saves -- Kaplan 8.

Costa Mesa -- Nuñez 4, Dyvig 2, Williams 1, Crandall 1, Rendon 1. Saves -- Mucha 7.