Girls water polo: Sailors hammer Esperanza

Tony Altobelli

NEWPORT BEACH - Amazing what a little “pep talk” from Newport

Harbor High girls water polo Coach Bill Barnett does to his Sailors’

squad.

Newport exploded for eight second-half goals for a convincing 11-1 win

over visiting Esperanza in the first round of the CIF Southern Section

Division I playoffs Saturday morning.

Newport (22-7) jumped out to a 3-1 first-quarter lead, but went

scoreless in the second, prompting a little encouragement from Barnett.

“I felt we played well in the first quarter and we had a number of

chances to put the game away in the second, but we didn’t do it,” Barnett

said. “It appeared the girls took their foot off the accelerator, so I

wanted to make sure we were all on the same page for the third quarter.

The pedal was to the medal for the Sailors after that, scoring two

goals in the first minute of the third and never looked back.

Katherine Belden led the Sailors with four goals, two coming off of

four-meter penalty shots. Jessica Ball, Annie Wight and Jenna Booth each

added two goals, while Erin Ball had a single tally.

“We got that first playoff win out of the way, which is always nice,”

Barnett said. “Our defense was strong, especially on our five on six

disadvantages.”

Esperanza (15-13) was 0 for 5 with the player advantage, while Newport

scored three times with the extra swimmer.

“Our movement was excellent when we were down a player,” Barnett said.

“That’s been our strong suit all season long.”

Newport jumped out to a 3-0 advantage on goals by Erin Ball, Wight and

Booth, two of those coming on six on fives.

The Aztecs closed out the quarter with a goal by Cia Cobb off an

assist from Amy Erwin.

After the scoreless second quarter, Booth and Jenna Ball increased

Newport’s lead to 5-1, while goalie Heather Deyden (13 saves) kept

Esperanza off the scoreboard the rest of the way.

Newport closed out the quarter with a goal from Wight and two goals

from Belden as the Sailors’ lead grew to 8-1.

The Aztecs had a couple of scoring opportunities, but Deyden was up to

the test, with a little help from crossbars, goal posts and the Sailors’

defense.

Newport closed out the scoring with three fourth-quarter goals from

Booth, Belden and Jessica Ball.

The Sailors will play Tuesday against El Toro at a site to be

determined by a coin flip. The Chargers swam past Long Beach Poly in

their opening-round matchup.

CIF DIVISION I PLAYOFFS

First round

Newport Harbor 11, Esperanza 1

Esperanza 1 0 0 0 - 1

Newport Harbor 3 0 5 3 - 11

Esperanza - Cobb 1. Saves - Mills 3.

Newport - Belden 4, J. Ball 2, Booth 2, Wight 2, H. Ball 1. Saves -

Deyden 13.