Newport girls on the way to Nationals

NEWPORT BEACH - The Newport Youth Water Polo team will be playing

for the girls’ 14-and-unders national championship Nov. 13-15 in St.

Peters, Mo., following championship endeavors at the Speedo Cup Regional

Qualification Tournament at Cal State Long Beach Nov. 13-15.

The girls conquered Tustin-based SoCal in the Pacific Region’s

championship match, a marathon duel lasting 75 minutes, which went into

sudden death after a scoreless double overtime session left the two teams

tied at 2-2.

It was scoreless at halftime before Anne Belden and Katie Erickson

broke through the in second half, finding the SoCal net with scoring

shots.

With 5:50 spent in sudden death, Belden, a left-handed driver, sent

the ball into the high corner on an assist from Jessie Ball, Newport’s

primary set-player.

The game was a tightly contested defensive battle pitting two

well-coached teams.

Each had 18 shots on goal.

Belden, who had two steals, was joined by the defensive play of Jessie

Ball, Sabrina Cook, Erickson and Leah Robertson, a combination which came

up with numerous blocked shots and steals.

Terin Cottam, Newport’s goalie, had a game-high 12 saves and came up

with three steals, as well as solid offensive play during counter

attacks.

The team is comprised solely of Newport Harbor High-bound seventh- and

eighth-graders, coached by Greg Boyer, a silver medalist in men’s water

polo at the 1988 Olympic Games, and a recent inductee into the United

States Water Polo Hall of Fame.

Newport’s championship run, however, was under the hand of assistant

coach Rob Williams, who took the reins while Boyer was in Australia at

the FINA Cup, acting as the senior U.S. referee.

Thirteen girls will travel to Missouri for the 12-team national tournament, which encompasses nine U.S. zones, as well as champions from

Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico.