NORTH ORANGE COUNTY WATER POLO TOURNAMENT : Corona del Mar Beats San Clemente for Title

FULLERTON —  In what could be a preview of the Southern Section Division 4-A championship, Corona del Mar defeated San Clemente, 14-10, in the title game of the North Orange County Tournament Saturday night at Independence Park in Fullerton.

It was the third meeting this season between the teams that are ranked first and second in Orange County and the Division 4-A poll and the second consecutive time that No. 1 Corona del Mar has emerged the winner.

The Sea Kings (15-1) trailed, 6-5, at the half but outscored San Clemente, 4-0, in the third quarter and were never threatened after that.

Corona del Mar Coach John Vargas sees room for improvement.

“We’ve got a lot of improving to do on defense,” Vargas said. “San Clemente’s an excellent team, but I don’t like the fact that they scored 10 goals against us. I don’t like to trade goals like that.”

Fortunately for the Sea Kings, the trade wasn’t an even one. Brent O’Brien and Ted Simpkins each scored four goals for the Sea Kings. Bryce Matthews scored five and Jeremy Laster scored two for the Tritons.

Trailing 6-4 midway through the second quarter, Corona del Mar’s Brad Harrington scored on a backhanded goal, the first of five consecutive goals scored by the Sea Kings. After the scoring streak, Corona del Mar led 9-6 entering the fourth quarter.

Laster cut the Corona del Mar lead to 9-7 with a man-advantage goal in the first minute of the fourth quarter, but the Tritons got no closer.

San Clemente (18-2), which has lost only to Corona del Mar this season, played most of the game without starting goalkeeper Pat Ortiz. San Clemente Coach Steve Yancey replaced Ortiz with field player Phinney Gardner in the first quarter for “disciplinary reasons.”

The Tritons also were hurt when Tim Hornig was ejected late in the second quarter.

In the third-place game:

Capistrano Valley 10, La Serna 7--Jake Yokota broke a 7-7 tie with 3:34 left, then added his fourth goal as the Cougars (15-4), ranked fourth in the Southern Section’s 4-A Division, defeated the 3-A Division’s top-ranked team.

In the consolation championship:

Esperanza 9, Marina 6--Fred Poole scored four times while Bill Thomas made 13 saves, including blocking two four-meter penalty shots for the Aztecs.