Foothill Breaks Loose Late to Win a Title

After playing to a standstill for three quarters, unseeded Foothill broke loose to score four fourth-quarter goals and finally pull away from second-seeded Irvine to win, 5-2, in the Southern Section Division I girls’ water polo final Wednesday at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach.

The championship game provided a perfect snapshot of the Knights’ season.

Foothill (22-7), which also won its first league title this season, incorporated three key freshmen with a core of veterans for a potent mix. And everyone contributed Wednesday.

Freshman Brittany Hayes scored two goals in the fourth quarter to give her 69 for the season and break senior co-captain Daylene Coberly’s record of 67 that she set in the ‘97-’98 season.

The score was tied, 1-1, through three quarters, but two goals by Hayes and one each by freshman Gabbie Domanic and junior Jo Graf provided the winning margin.

It looked like it could have been a long night for Foothill early in the game when Domanic, the Knights’ second-leading scorer, picked up two first-quarter fouls and found herself on the bench.

And, although Foothill took 16 shots in the first half, Irvine goalie Kelly Graff (10 saves) turned away shot after shot.

“I knew we just had to keep shooting,” Foothill Coach Dave Mikesell said.

Foothill didn’t score until shot No. 15 when Coberly barely got one past Graff from eight meters with 35 seconds remaining in the second quarter to tie it, 1-1. The game stayed that way until the fourth quarter.

Foothill’s defense played a major role. Irvine scored its first-half goal when Kelly Anderson beat freshman goalie Emily Feher on a four-meter penalty shot. But Irvine took only 10 shots while Foothill had 23.

Nicole Lorrimer’s fourth-quarter goal pulled Irvine (25-4) even, 2-2, with 4:43 remaining, but the Vaqueros got only one shot in the final 4 1/2 minutes.