Girls water polo: Sea Kings nipped by Laguna Beach

Tony Altobelli

LAKE FOREST - The momentum of the game changed as often as Friday’s

helter-skelter weather.

In the end, the result was doom and gloom for the Corona del Mar High

girls water polo team, which fell, 7-6, to Laguna Beach in the CIF

Southern Section Division IV semifinal at El Toro High.

“I thought we outplayed and outshot them,” CdM Coach John Vargas said.

“We just didn’t outscore them.”

The top-seeded Sea Kings (19-12) were led offensively by Sophomore

Daniela DiGiacomo and senior Malia Tarayao, who each scored twice. Senior

Lindsey Daley and sophomore Christina Hewko each added single tallies,

while sophomore Danielle Carlson sparked the offense with three assists.

It appeared Corona del Mar was going to make quick work of the Artists

(23-6), scoring three goals on its first three possessions.

“We were able to take some high-quality shots throughout the game,”

Vargas said. “We just started to rush everything, causing us to miss some

easy opportunities.”

Daley got CdM on the scoreboard first with a nice backhand shot in

front of the net just 42 seconds into the contest.

Following a Laguna Beach turnover, Hewko took a nice lead pass from

Carlson and made the score 2-0.

On CdM’s next possession, Tarayao placed a long shot into the

upper-right corner of the goal. Three shots and three goals in just three

minutes of work.

The Artists, who defeated CdM twice earlier this year, settled down

and ended the quarter with goals by Tina and Teresa Codini, as well as

Laura Case to tie the game.

Tina Codini, who led the Artists with three goals, scored again to

give Laguna Beach a 4-3 lead just 30 seconds into the second quarter

before DiGiacomo tied the game on CdM’s next possession.

Strong defense by DiGiacomo (five steals) gave CdM excellent scoring

opportunities, but four high-quality shots rang off the Artists’

crossbar.

Goals by Tracy Herdman and Tina Codini gave Laguna Beach a 6-4

advantage late in the third quarter as the Sea Kings were held scoreless

for more than two quarters of action.

Finally, with 6:07 left in the game, Tarayao scored on a six-on-five

advantage, cutting Laguna Beach’s lead to one.

Corona del Mar pressed the Artists and forced four straight shot-clock

violations, but still could not tie the game, thanks to strong

goaltending by Lina Moore (12 saves).

With 3:04 remaining, Case fought off a strong CdM defense and somehow

found the back of the net for a 7-5 Laguna Beach advantage.

CdM capitalized on another six-on-five opportunity when DiGiacomo

scored with 33 seconds left, making it 7-6.

All Laguna Beach had to do was swim out the clock, but CdM was given

the ball with eight seconds left when a Laguna Beach player was called

for being within two meters of Sea Kings’ goalie Jessica Wells (seven

saves).

Corona del Mar tried to set up one last shot, but time ran out on the

game and the Sea Kings’ season.

“Laguna Beach was definitely the best team we’ve faced all year in

Division IV,” Vargas said. “I predict they will win the finals by four or

five goals, no matter who they play. How’s that for putting pressure on

them?”

CIF DIVISION IV PLAYOFFS

Semifinal

Laguna Beach 7, Corona del Mar 6

Corona del Mar 3 1 0 2 - 6

Laguna Beach 3 1 2 1 - 7

Corona del Mar - DiGiacomo 2, Tarayao 2, Hewko 1, Daley 1. Saves -

Wells 7.

Laguna Beach - Ti. Codini 3, Case 2, Te. Codini 1, Herdman 1. Saves -

Moore 12.