Girls water polo: Harbor’s defense leads to victory

Steve Virgen

NEWPORT BEACH/CORONA DEL MAR - Like champions, the Newport Harbor

High girls water polo team defended its home pool and tournament with

intense play Friday.

Like champions, the Sailors took down the No. 1 team in Orange County,

Foothill, 5-3, with defense and a special brand of teamwork. Then, No. 3

Harbor eased past Santa Margarita with another sterling defensive

performance.

And, now it is the Tars (8-1), with an eight-game winning streak, who

will be playing for the championship of the Holiday Cup when they face

Santa Barbara today at noon.

“Both games, it was the defense,” Harbor Coach Bill Barnett said.

“Kathy Belden just did a great job.”

Sailors senior Katherine Belden scored with 49 seconds remaining in

the third quarter to tie the game at 3. Harbor sophomore Annie Wight

scored two quick goals in the opening minutes of the fourth as Belden

assisted on Wight’s first goal, and 15 seconds later, Wight connected on

an outside shot for insurance.

Senior Heather Deyden turned back seven shots.

“They’re gaining confidence,” Barnett said, “which I think is very

important.”

Said Belden, “It was very intense. We were counterattacking back and

forth. They were missing a few good players, but it was still nice to

beat them. We were the hunter and they were the hunted.”

The Sailors were down, 2-1, at halftime, but Jenna Booth, who leads

the team with 14 goals, tied the game.

Foothill played without two of its top players, Gabby Dominic and

Brittany Hayes, both who are on the U.S. Youth Team playing at a

tournament in Montreal.

In Harbor’s win over Santa Margarita, the Eagles were without Kristina

Kunkel, who is also at the Montreal tournament. More than likely, her

presence would not have made that much of a difference because the Tars

turned in their best defensive performance of the season as Belden

recorded 10 of the 24 team’s steals.

Harbor sophomore Paige Lansing, who also had one goal against

Foothill, finished with two scores against Santa Margarita. She started

the Tars off three minutes into the game with a lob shot over the Eagles’

Kristen Carfioli.

Two minutes later, Lansing scored again when she made a quick cut to

the cage and Booth fed her the ball, creating a one-on-one for Lansing.

Belden scored the next two goals for Harbor as she took advantage of

the extra-player situation with 3:10 remaining in the third quarter. And,

then in the fourth, Belden took a pass from Booth, sped past Eagles

defenders, lifted the ball above water with her left hand and gave a

quick jab with her right for the score.

Sailors sisters Erin Ball and Jessica Ball teamed for the final goal

as Jessica finished a pass from Erin with 17 seconds left.

Deyden finished with another seven saves against the Eagles.

“Our defense was basically flawless,” Belden said. “We wanted to slow

things down a bit. We wanted to concentrate on our defense and take it

play by play.”

The Corona del Mar Sea Kings were also concentrating on defense, among

other things. But, they failed to get back in the win column after

setbacks to Laguna Beach, 3-2, and Marina, 4-2.

Winning, surprisingly, was not the most important goal for the Sea

Kings (5-5), who are also co-hosts of the Holiday Cup which features the

top teams in Orange County, and elsewhere.

Danielle Carlson suffered pain and soreness and sat out against

Marina, which caused Coach John Vargas to alter his lineup and strategy.

Vargas asked his team to give even a greater effort, and usually that

leads to victories, but in this case he was plenty happy to receive the

alternative.

“We’re ready for league play now,” he said. “Our record doesn’t

reflect it, but we’re ready.”

Carlson and Lindsey Daley scored one goal each against Laguna Beach,

while Christina Hewko scored two goals against Marina. Vargas said Hewko

and the Sea Kings have gained a great amount of experience in the Holiday

Cup and Hewko agreed, but there’s definitely a need for improvement.

“We sometimes need more spirit,” said Hewko who tried to inspire her

teammates by putting together songs like ‘Eye of the Tiger’ for the Sea

Kings’ warm-ups.

Hewko’s upbeat approach has nullified the pressure that could be on

her this season. Vargas said her role has expanded as she is depended on

for difficult defensive attacks and quickness on the offense.

HOLIDAY CUP

Newport Harbor 5, Foothill 3

Foothill 1 1 1 0 - 3

Newport Harbor 1 0 2 2 - 5

Foothill - Cava 2, Redelli 1.

Newport Harbor - Wight 2, Belden 1, Lansing 1, Booth 1.

Saves - Deyden 7.

Newport Harbor 5, Santa Margarita 1

Santa Margarita 0 1 0 0 - 1

Newport Harbor 2 0 1 2 - 5

Santa Margarita - Yoder 1.

Saves - Carfioli 7.

Newport Harbor - Belden 2, Lansing 2, J. Ball 1.

Saves - Deyden 7.

Laguna Beach 3, Corona del Mar 2

Laguna Beach 0 1 2 0 - 3

Corona del Mar 1 0 0 1 - 2

Laguna Beach - Herdman 1, Gordon 1, Hagood-Earl 1.

Corona del Mar - Carlson 1, Daley 1.

Saves - Wells 8.

Marina 4, Corona del Mar 2

Marina 1 2 0 1 - 4

Corona del Mar 2 0 0 0 - 2

Marina - Chlebiki 3, Shanley 1.

Corona del Mar - Hewko 2.

Saves - Wells 9.