Girls water polo: Harbor denied of county’s top spot

Steve Virgen

NEWPORT BEACH - With a frustrating defense, the Foothill High girls

water polo team displayed why it’s the No. 1-ranked team in Orange

County.

Newport Harbor, ranked No. 2 in the county, settled for second-best,

as the Sailors went 0 for 8 on player-up opportunities and lost, 7-4, to

the visiting Knights in nonleague action Friday.

“If we can just score 50% of our six-on-fives, it’s a tie score,”

Harbor Co-Coach Brian Kreutzkamp said. “I’m really happy with our girls’

effort. We tried our best, but Foothill is definitely better than us

right now.”

After a scoreless first period, the Knights (18-1) built a 3-0 lead in

a 94-second span.

The Tars committed seven turnovers in the first half, but managed 11

shots. Unfortunately for Harbor (16-5), four hit the crossbar and the

other seven were either wide or high.

When a Harbor shot actually had a chance, sophomore goalie Emily Feher

(11 saves) was there to make the stop.

“This is the fastest team we have faced by far,” Kreutzkamp said. “The

opportunities were there for us. But, if that goalie plays the way she

did today, I don’t know if anyone in our division can beat them.”

One of Feher’s more dramatic saves came with 1:30 remaining in the

first half, when she rose high out of the water to grab a Jenna Murphy

shot.

“By far, the best our goalie has ever played,” Foothill Co-Coach Dave

Mikesell said. “It’s almost as if she was unconscious. That was (also)

the best defensive game this team has ever played. This is the first time

we’ve come here and beaten Harbor in the five years of our program.”

The Tars, who received five saves from Heather Deyden, held the

Knights scoreless in the third period.

But, Harbor failed to score the first three quarters. The Sailors drew

three ejections in just over a minute to close out the third, but they

still could not find the net.

With two minutes remaining, Harbor junior Katherine Belden’s shot

bounced off the crossbar on a six-on-five. Fifteen seconds later, Sailors

freshman Jessica Ball drew an ejection, but senior Jenna Booth’s shot hit

the crossbar. One minute later, Murphy drew an ejection, but senior Erin

Ball’s shot was stopped by Feher.

“I think we can play with anyone in Division I,” Kreutzkamp said.

“But, to beat (Foothill), you have to play a perfect game. And 0 for 8 on

six-on-fives is not a perfect game.”

The Sailors finally scored 46 seconds into the fourth period, when

Murphy collected a steal and found sophomore Annie Wight on the break.

Wight quickly snuck in a shot to cut the deficit to 3-1.

Foothill scored 29 seconds after Wight’s goal, but, just six seconds

later, Belden answered by firing in a shot from outside.

In the fourth quarter, the Tars were outscored, 4-3, as they failed on

three six-on-fives.

Booth scored on a pass from Wight with 2:35 remaining to finalize the

Sailor scoring.

“(The Sailors) are tough to play in this pool,” Mikesell said. “They

are one of the best-coached teams in the county and they know how to play

water polo. It’s a good road win for us.”

There is a possibility the two teams will meet again this weekend in

the Irvine Tournament.

NONLEAGUE

Foothill 7, Newport Harbor 4

Score by Quarters

Foothill 0 3 0 4 - 7

Newport Harbor 0 0 0 3 - 3

Foothill - Hayes 3, Domanic 1, Allison 1, Redaelli 1, Carroll 1.

Saves - Feher 11.

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

Saves - Deyden 5.