Sailors go deep to win title

IRVINE — Misconduct, starting players ejected and a match restarted after a quarter played … these were all factors that fed the drama for Newport Harbor High at the S&R; Sport Boys’ Water Polo Cup. All came before the championship match Saturday at Irvine High.

Yet the adversity actually proved to be beneficial for the Sailors, who saw it as an opportunity to display their depth.

After grabbing an impressive 10-6 win against Coronado in the semifinal, Newport Harbor seemed to have attained a turning point in its season.

Later in the day, the Sailors became champions, beating Miramonte of Orinda, 9-6, to win the S&R; Sport Cup.

Just two weeks ago, Newport Harbor (14-1) failed its first test of the year, losing to Loyola of Los Angeles in the semifinals of the South Coast Tournament. But the Sailors knew it was an early-season exam and that there would be more challenges along the way in their quest for a CIF Southern Section Division I championship.

It’s OK to talk about the crown. When there are 14 seniors on the team there are high expectations that come about.

For a weekend, those were met, mainly in the semifinal victory.

“They’re a great team, a strong team,” Coach Jason Lynch said of his Sailors. “I think we’re hopefully turning the corner. We’re believing in ourselves. Hopefully we can get rolling here at the right time of the year.”

Lynch said he was more impressed with his team’s semifinal win than the victory in the title match.

With the score tied, 3-3, at the end of the first quarter against Coronado, officials realized that two Newport Harbor players were not supposed to be competing because they had been ejected for misconduct in the quarterfinals Friday.

Senior Jack Yeager and freshman Jon Walters were ejected and weren’t able to finish with the Sailors in their 13-3 win over Long Beach Wilson. And, their ejections were supposed to carry over into the semifinal. Yet rather than disqualify Newport Harbor, the Coronado coach and Lynch agreed to start the game over after the first quarter had been played.

This time, the Sailors sped out to a 3-1 lead. Senior Blake Kelly scored three goals to help make sure Newport Harbor could win without three starters, as Matt Russell actually missed the tournament due to illness.

Seniors Chris Craib and Tim Tauber stepped up in the absences to also help Newport Harbor. The duo also came up big in the final, as Kelly and Yeager fouled out.

Kelly was assessed his third and final foul midway through the third and Yeager had to leave just over two minutes into the final quarter. But Newport Harbor again showed its depth, building a four-goal lead to put the game out of reach.

Sophomore Farrel South, who scored two goals in the semifinal, led the Sailors with three goals in the final. Senior Zach Lucas and Walters added two goals each. Kelly had one, as did Craib.

Lynch was pleased with the play of junior goalie Chris Whitelegge, who recorded 19 saves against Coronado and seven against Miramonte.

Watson leads CdM to third place

IRVINE — Corona del Mar High bounced back from a heartbreaking semifinal loss to finish third in the S&R; Sport Cup.

The Sea Kings beat Coronado, 8-7, in the third-place match.

In the semifinals, CdM (12-3) suffered an 8-7 loss to Miramonte, which scored with 20 seconds to win it. Max Bergson and Chase Watson scored three goals each.

Watson scored the game-winner against Coronado, connecting at two meters with 44 seconds left. He had three goals again, as did Bergeson.

CdM Coach Barry O’Dea said the tournament served as a breakout-type performance for Watson, who also became more vocal. He’s also helped the Sea Kings to their best start in O’Dea’s five years with the program.

“It took a lot for them to bounce back [from the semifinal loss],” O’Dea said. “We were really up for that semifinal ... We were disappointed. We were bummed. But we had a great weekend.”