CdM girls host Samohi in Division IV semifinal

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - The Corona del Mar High girls water polo team,

competing in its first CIF Southern Section Division IV playoffs, appears

to have the hang of this postseason deal.

Coach John Vargas’ Sea Kings (19-11), tri-champions of the Pacific Coast

League, have dispatched three opponents en route to today’s 4 p.m.

semifinal match against Santa Monica (22-7) at Newport Harbor High.

“I’m really proud of what our girls have done,” Vargas said before

rallying to eliminate defending Division IV champion and third-seeded

Rosary in Tuesday’s quarterfinal.

CdM opened its playoff run with a 16-2 trouncing of Katella in the

wild-card round, then thumped Orange League champion Brea Olinda, 11-4,

in a first-round win.

Freshman Danielle Carlson leads the CdM playoff scorers with 11 goals in

three games, including the game-winner with four seconds left against

Rosary.

Senior Melinda Tucker has eight and sophomore Lauren Guthrie seven.

Christina Hewko has contributed four goals and fellow freshman Daniela

DiGiacomo three.

Adhering to the defensive principles stressed by Vargas, the U.S. men’s

national team coach and a former U.S. Olympian, CdM, with senior goalie

Arin Hendrickson amassing 26 saves, has posted five shutout quarters in

the playoffs.

Santa Monica, which split the Bay League title three ways with Redondo

and Peninsula, upset second-seeded El Dorado, 6-5, in Wednesday’s

quarterfinal.

Today’s winner will advance to Tuesday’s championship game at Belmont

Plaza, against either top-seeded Santa Margarita (22-6) or PCL

tri-champion University (14-12).