Community college women’s water polo: Pirates take Hornets to

school

Steve Virgen

CYPRESS - School was in session as the Orange Coast College women’s

water polo team displayed why its ranked No. 1 in the state, conducting a

12-1 lesson to Fullerton in the quarterfinals of the Southern California

Regional Championships at Cypress College Friday.

The word for the day was, “counterattack,” and the Pirates (31-1) gave

the Hornets (16-13), who made their first-ever regional quarterfinal

appearance, a 28-minute crash course and advanced to the semifinals.

The victory also locks up a spot in the state finals Nov. 16-18 at

Merced College. Today’s action will determine seedings in the state

tournament. The Pirates will face Mt. San Antonio, a 10-9 upset winner

over Golden West, in a semifinal today at 11:30 a.m. The final is set for

5 p.m.

But the state’s No. 1 seed is seemingly OCC’s, especially after the

way the Pirates controlled Fullerton. A state title is also within the

Pirates’ grasp if they continue to play their game, Hornets’ Coach Pete

Snyder said.

“I don’t know if there’s anybody playing at (OCC’s) level,” said

Snyder, whose team lost to the Pirates for the fifth time this season.

“They dominate in all of their games. It’s going to take a great team

with a perfect effort to beat them.”

Coast’s defense came up near-perfect Friday. The Pirates recorded 23

steals, leading to nine goals, while two other scores came on six-on-five

situations. Devon Wright led the way with five steals, and she added one

goal. Goalie Heather Deyden, a Newport Harbor High product, also had five

steals and stopped five shots.

“We have seven more days together as a team,” OCC Coach Don Watson

said. “It’s been such a pleasant experience that I don’t think (the

Pirates) feel a whole lot of pressure. I think they’re really enjoying

it, the payoff for a lot of hard work.”

The Pirates, the Orange Empire Conference champions, went to work

early, building a 7-1 halftime lead with its sound defense and aggressive

counterattacks.

OCC scored three goals in less than two minutes to close out the first

period. Christine McDonald, who scored three goals, notched the first

two, converting on a counterattack and then finishing on a six-on-five.

Erica Nicholson, who scored two goals, added the Pirates’ third goal on a

counterattack after a Fullerton ball-under turnover.

McDonald completed her hat trick to open the second quarter after

Wright stole the ball. McDonald sent a skip shot from four meters out. A

minute later, Nicholson’s steal led to Neisha Hoagland’s first of two

goals and a 5-0 lead.

Fullerton came back with a goal after Jessica Durkin grabbed her own

rebound and threw one in the cage.

But the Pirates added two more goals to close out the half, when

Nicholson scored after Tia Montalvo’s steal and Wright launched a shot

from about 10 meters out after Deyden’s goalie steal.

Shari Meyer scored two goals in the second half for the Pirates, while

Hoagland, Nicole Sonnenfeld and Erica Anderson added one each.

“That’s a good game for us as we’re leading into the semifinals,” OCC

assistant coach Mike Giles said. “Hopefully we can keep up that kind of

intensity. Hopefully we’re peaking at the right time.’SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Quarterfinals

Orange Coast 12, Fullerton 1

Fullerton 0 1 0 0 - 1

Orange Coast 3 4 2 3 - 12

Fullerton - Durkin 1. Saves - Mustain 6.

Orange Coast - McDonald 3, Nicholson 2, Hoagland 2, Meyer 2, Wright 1,

Sonnenfeld 1, Anderson 1. Deyden 5.