Mesa gets job done

COSTA MESA — Making the CIF playoffs is not just some vague concept for the Costa Mesa High girls’ water polo team.

Sure, it’s a goal, but it’s also an expectation. That’s what advancing to the playoffs five years in a row will do for a program.

Make it six after the Mustangs beat cross-town rival Estancia, 13-7, on Wednesday at their home pool. That result, combined with Sage Hill’s 14-1 loss to league champion Laguna Beach, secured second place in the Orange Coast League for the Mustangs and the CIF Southern Section Division II playoff spot that goes along with it.

“I’m so excited,” said Mesa senior Talhia Nuñez, who scored four goals against the Eagles. “If you’re going to go, go all the way.

“Especially in our last year,” Nuñez added, turning to give fellow senior Patricia Marty a high-five.

Costa Mesa (11-16, 2-1 in league) and Estancia (10-7, 0-3) played fairly evenly early. Junior Ashley Rendon, who also scored four goals, scored a six-on-five goal for the Mustangs to open the action. But Estancia junior Amber Peters countered with a goal from set.

Marty (two goals, five steals) added a counterattack goal midway through the quarter, before Estancia junior Tyler Andrews converted a power-play lob goal from the right to level the score at 2-2 with 2:28 left in the quarter.

From there, however, Costa Mesa would outscore Estancia, 5-1, the rest of the half. The Mustangs, who earned 10 Estancia exclusions, scored five goals on the power play.

“You can never work too much on six-on-fives,” Marty said.

The Eagles, meanwhile, finished one for eight with the extra player.

“We knew that would be important for this game,” said Costa Mesa Coach Tim Postiff, whose girls’ water polo teams have made the playoffs since he became coach in 2002. “We had a lot of movement on offense that allowed us to draw a lot of ejections, and we were able to convert when it mattered.”

Mesa opened up a 9-3 lead early in the third quarter when Briana Williams scored her second goal of the game. Estancia freshman Haley Kunert (three goals, five steals) then scored on a counter, and Estancia had a chance to pull closer.

But a power-play shot was blocked by Costa Mesa goalie Danielle Bowen, and a rebound attempt from set went high.

Costa Mesa came right back when Nuñez earned an exclusion, called for the ball and scored before the Estancia defense could recover. Marty scored another six-on-five goal with 47 seconds left in the third quarter, helping the Mustangs to an 11-4 lead.

“Six-on-fives made a big difference,” Estancia Coach Jennifer Perry acknowledged. “I think the girls played hard and did all they could. They did really well in terms of their endurance in the game ... This is just such a tough game for us. It’s high-tension. The girls get really worked up about it.”

Bowen made 10 saves for Mesa, including one on a penalty shot. Williams had two goals and four steals for the Mustangs, and sophomore Kayci Decker added a goal and an assist.

Sophomore Hannah Speer, junior Liz Simpson, Marty and Williams also combined on the defensive end to limit the Eagles.

“We really worked on transition,” Postiff said. “Marty and [Williams] both scored on transition goals, which is really nice, getting those counterattack goals. And Kayci contributed on the six-on-five with her goal. She’s really stepped it up in the last three weeks as a player. She’s contributing a lot to what we’re doing.”

Senior Meagan Kunert had two goals and three steals for Estancia, which has yet to beat its cross-town rival in girls’ water polo. But, after the game, it was clear the respect the programs had for each other.

“We did not overlook them, that’s for sure,” Marty said. “We knew we needed to come in here and win today to get to CIF, and that’s been our goal all along. They were a strong team, and a good team, but we didn’t quit.”

Mesa plays at Canyon today to close out its regular season, then waits for the CIF pairings to be announced Sunday at 11 a.m.

Orange Coast League

Costa Mesa 13, Estancia 7

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Est – H. Kunert 3, M. Kunert 2, Peters 1, Andrews 1. Saves – Kaplan 5.

CM – Nuñez 4, Rendon 4, Williams 2, Marty 2, Decker 1. Saves – Bowen 10.

MATT SZABO may be reached at (714) 966-4614 or by e-mail at [email protected].