Shadowlands

Nov. 12-18. Looking back, 5 years ago this week.

It’s a nail-biter for Corona del Mar High goalkeeper Billy Messenger

from start to finish in the Sea Kings’ opening round of the CIF Southern

Section Division I boys water polo playoffs. Messenger battles and helps

the Sea Kings to an 8-7 overtime victory over host Mission Viejo.

Messenger records a career-high 20 saves, including four in the two

three-minute overtime periods. “I was nervous the whole time, especially

the second half,” Messenger says. Chris Esposito scores three goals.

The Newport Harbor football team crushes Woodbridge, 50-7, as the

Warriors’ assistant coaches show anger of the Sailors passing game in the

fourth quarter. Jeff Brinkley answers Erik Lekas’ shouted criticism by

telling the young assistant to, “Get a head (coaching) job and come play

me sometime.”

The Tars raise their season point total to 414, obliterating the

single-season record of the 1985 squad in 13 games. Ray Ohrel scores on

touchdown runs of 5 and 4 yards. Joe Urban follows a 30-yard Eddie

Johnson field goal with a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown on

the ensuing snap. Danny Pulido catches touchdown passes of 13 and 23

yards from Josiah Fredricksen.

The Estancia girls tennis team scores an upset win over Pacifica in

the wild-card round of the CIF Southern Section Division IV playoffs.

Total games are counted to determine the Eagles the winners, after

splitting 18 sets with Pacifica. Katie Kreisle and Meredith Newland earn

a sweep at No. 2 doubles. Sayori Tsuji adds a key singles victory in the

final round.

Looking back, 10 years ago this week.

Senior Maureen McLaren, half of Newport Harbor High’s “Twin Towers,”

is selected Co-Most Valuable Player in Sea View League girls volleyball.

McLaren shares the honor with Tustin senior Christine Garner. The other

half of the “Twin Towers,” Newport’s Tara Kroesch, is a first-team

selection. “I’m going to miss coaching both of them next year,” says

Newport Coach Dan Glenn. Corona del Mar places three members on the first

team -- sophomores, Kim Coleman and Jennifer Stroffe, and junior Allison

Engelbrecht.

Julian Popov, the only senior remaining on the Costa Mesa water polo

squad, is selected as Co-Most Valuable Player in the Pacific Coast

League. The Mustangs’ standout shares the honor with Laguna Beach’s Tyler

Rolotleibl. “Julian is a physical, dominating player,” says Costa Mesa

Coach Jason Lynch. “Teams had to worry about just trying to stop him, and

usually it created of opportunities for the rest of the players.” Costa

Mesa also places J.R. Porter on the first team. Sam Gardner, sophomore

Sam Grayeli and goalie Chris Avitia earn second-team recognition.

The Orange Coast College men’s soccer team clinches its fourth

straight conference title with a decisive 9-0 victory over Cypress on the

Chargers’ field. Darin Courter began the scoring onslaught nine minutes

into the match and Sergio Suarez and P.J. Polowski also score in the

first half to create a 2-0 lead. After Mike Hawks tallies two goals

minutes into the second half, Courter scores again and Mark Mitchell

notches four goals to build the winning margin.

-- compiled by Steve Virgen