Tars fall in sudden death

NEWPORT BEACH — This one hurt.

With 46 seconds left in the second sudden-death overtime period of the CIF Southern Section Division I quarterfinal boys’ water polo match, Santa Barbara’s Brenden Kerwin-McElroy floated a lob shot from five meters out into the back of the net. That gave the Dons a 3-2 win and ended Newport Harbor’s season and its bid to win a second straight CIF title, the third in the last seven years.

The heartbreaking finish came at the end of an exhausting match with two regular overtime periods and two sudden-death overtime periods that were a testament to playoff heart.

Both teams demonstrated tough defense in the low-scoring game and at no point in any overtime periods was it clear who had the advantage. Every time down the pool, each team kept getting opportunities, but would miss wide or have its shot blocked.

“It was a battle from the get-go,” Newport Harbor Coach Jason Lynch said. “Both teams were totally exhausted physically [and] we gave them an opportunity with a foul at five meters and that’s how it ended; with a lob shot.”

The game opened with a defensive stand-off as neither team scored in the first half.

The offense peaked at the start of the second half, however, with Newport Harbor junior Blake Kelly scoring two goals with 6:39 and 5:30 to go in the third period to put the Sailors up, 2-0.

The lead did not last. The Dons’ Brandon Cowan hit a shot from the side with 4:10 to go in the third quarter and Kerwin-McElroy scored his first goal minutes later to tie the score at two with 2:48 to go in the period.

The goalies on both ends had wild games in the net. Newport Harbor’s Nick Holbrook recorded 15 saves with three of those coming in the last second in each of the first three overtime periods.

Andy Hayes also made a big contribution for the Sailors defense with six steals. David Linden, Zach Osadche and Zach Lucas had three steals each, while Jack Yeager and Matt Russell had two apiece.

Hunter Ploch, registered 14 saves to put the Dons in the semifinals.

CIF Division I playoffs

Quarterfinal

Santa Barbara 3,

Newport Harbor 2

SCORE BY QUARTERS

SB – Kerwin-McElroy 2, Cowan 1. Saves – Ploch 14.

NB – Kelly 2. Saves –Holbrook 15.