Girls water polo: CdM in semifinals

Barry Faulkner

CORONA DEL MAR - What began as a power circle, carried over into a

defensive force field for the Corona del Mar High girls water polo team

Tuesday.

Energized by the pregame ritual in which team members align in a

circle, the Sea Kings thumped visiting Brea Olinda, 13-2, in the

quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division IV playoffs.

“We wanted to come out strong,” said CdM sophomore Christina Hewko,

who paced the winners with three goals, three assists and three steals.

“Our defense was fired up.”

The victory, which followed a 16-0 first-round triumph over Cypress

Friday, put the top-seeded Sea Kings (18-11) into Friday’s semifinal

against Pacific Coast League rival Laguna Beach (22-6). Laguna Beach will

choose the alternate site.

The Artists, who have defeated CdM twice this season, but shared the

PCL crown with CdM and University, defeated Peninsula, 7-6, Tuesday.

After polishing off Brea Olinda (18-9), CdM and Coach John Vargas

wasted little time preparing for Friday’s test.

“We’ll have the girls back in an hour, and we’ll start studying video

of Laguna Beach’s match to get ready for Friday,” Vargas said.

Motivation will not be a problem Friday. But it was similarly

unmistakable Tuesday, Vargas said.

“The girls were extremely motivated today, which is helpful,” Vargas

said. “Our defense played great today and every single girl did a great

job. We funneled shots and Jessica (Wells) did a great job in goal (six

saves).”

The CdM defense was so stifling, the Wildcats rarely got the ball

closer than six meters to the goal. Brea finally managed its first shot

midway through the first quarter and netted its first goal midway through

the second quarter on an easy opportunity after a CdM turnover in front

of the goal.

Lisa McKinley’s goal stopped CdM’s postseason shutout steak at just

more than 39 minutes and cut into a 7-0 lead.

CdM, passing selflessly, swimming by defenders to find openings, and

counterattacking with abandon, increased the lead to 10-1 by halftime,

allowing Vargas to substitute freely.

Sophomore Danielle Carlson and senior co-captain Lindsey Daley added

three goals apiece, while junior Jessica Fries had two.

Daley chipped in three steals, while Fries, Carlson, Daniela DiGiacomo

and Jessica Harkins added two apiece.

Brea managed just 14 shots and committed 23 turnovers. CdM finished

with 28 shots and just 13 turnovers.

DiGiacomo and Brittany Bowlus rounded out the scoring for the winners,

whose hunger for the section title they were denied last season -- in a

7-4 title-game loss to Santa Margarita -- appears substantial.

“We know what it was like not to win last year,” Hewko said. “We

really want it this year.”

Said Vargas, “The girls are excited.”

CIF DIVISION IV PLAYOFFS

Quarterfinal

Corona del Mar 13, Brea Olinda 2

Score by Quarters

Brea Olinda 0 1 1 0 - 2

Corona del Mar 6 4 1 2 - 13

Brea Olinda - McKinley 1, Kane 1. Saves - Koto 4.

Corona del Mar - Hewko 3, Carlson 3, Daley 3, Fries 2, Bowlus 1,

DiGiacomo 1. Saves - Wells 6.