Time capsule

Joseph Boo

IRVINE - Time literally seemed to stand still for the

highly-anticipated matchup between CIFSouthern Section Division’s No. 1

Newport Harbor and No. 2 Long Beach Wilson in the championship game of

the S & G Water Polo Cup Saturday night at Heritage Park.

The scoreboard stopped because of a power failure, causing a 15-minute

delay in the game. When the game was picked up, Long Beach Wilson scored

six straight goals to take a commanding lead in a 13-10 win over the

Sailors.

“That had a partial effect on our team,” allowed Newport Harbor Coach

Brian Kreutzkamp about the delay. “That took the wind out of our sails.

We had momentum. We’re a team that likes to keep swimming.”

The delay was not the main reason why the Sailors lost, Kreutzkamp said.

But it did mark the turning point of the game.

Despite the higher ranking, Newport Harbor came in as an underdog to

Wilson, with Azevedo returning to the lineup. The youngest player on the

U.S. national team, Azevedo managed to score twice, but he did not

dominate the game, with the Sailors’ defense effectively keeping him in

check.

A gutsy Sailor team had a 5-4 lead midway through the second quarter.

Newport took full advantage of rough play from the Bruins, who had two

players with two ejections for most of the game.

Peter Belden, who led all scorers with seven goals, converted two of

his four penalty shots and one goal in the first quarter to tie the game

3-3.

Belden and Azevedo exchanged goals at the start of the second quarter to

push it to 4-4, then Robert Weiner tipped in a Belden pass with three

minutes left in the quarter to give the Sailors a 5-4 lead.

That’s when the game was stopped, and when the game resumed with a

partially working scoreboard and the time and score was yelled out across

the pool.

Wilson came out strong after the break. Azevedo and Albert Garcia scored

in the final two minutes of the half to give the Bruins a 6-5 lead and

the six-goal run for the Bruins started.

With defensive attention on Azevedo, it was Garcia who killed the

Sailors. The speedy Garcia broke loose for all three goals in the third

quarter, consistently beating everyone to the end of the pool.

“We were hoping neither one would kill us,” Kreutzkamp said. “But it’s

like Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. You have to pick your poison.”

Long Beach Wilson extended the lead to 13-7 late in the game before

Harbor scored three at the end to close the gap. Despite the loss, there

was optimism on Newport Harbor’s side.

“We played very, very well,” Kreutzkamp said. “I’m very proud. Our guys

know we can play with them at the end of the year.”

“I think we came in intimidated,” Newport Harbor’s Ryan Cook said. “But

we know we can play with them now. I can’t wait to see them again.”In the

semifinal game against San Clemente, goalie Tim Birdsong notched 17 saves

in an 8-5 victory. Belden scored five goals, and Weiner scored three.

Cook played well on offense, with four assists, including one no-look tip

pass on a break.

TOURNAMENT FINAL

Long Beach Wilson 13, Newport Harbor 10

Long Beach Wilson 3 3 3 4 - 13

Newport Harbor 3 2 0 5 - 10

Long Beach Wilson: Azevedo 4, Garcia 4, Campbell 2, Shin 2, Jones 1.

Saves: Walter 9.

Newport Harbor: Belden 7, Weiner 2, Snelgrove 1. Saves: Birdsong 13.

TOURNAMENT SEMIFINAL

Newport Harbor 8, San Clemente 5

San Clemente 0 2 2 1 - 5

Newport Harbor 3 2 1 2 - 8

San Clemente: Hewko 2, Anderson 1, Cupito 1, Wielding 1. Saves: Smith 3.

Newport Harbor: Belden 5, Weiner 3. Saves: Birdsong 17.