Girls water polo: Wells a wall in CdM 10-8 win

Steve Virgen

LONG BEACH - If there was a game ball awarded for the girls water

polo matchup between Corona del Mar High and Long Beach Wilson, CdM

senior goalie Jessica Wells would have most likely cradled it on the bus

ride home.

Wells’ 13 saves provided momentum and helped the Sea Kings defeat

Wilson, 10-8, in nonleague action at Belmont Plaza Friday.

Wells’ final two saves were dynamic and just as critical as the other

11. With 2:15 remaining and CdM protecting a 9-7 lead, she slapped away a

line-drive dart, from about 15 meters out by Lauren Silver. Allison Lamb

grabbed the rebound and flung another shot at the CdM cage, but Wells

grabbed it.

CdM junior Christina Hewko, who, along with Brittney Bowlus, led the

Sea Kings with three goals, drew a penalty and made the four-meter shot

with 0:59 left to secure the win.

“(Wells) made some great stops,” CdM Coach Aaron Chaney said. “She

played really well. She was on top of it.”

Chaney also said Hewko’s defense made a big difference. Chaney said

Hewko neutralized Wilson senior standout Cassie Azevedo. After scoring

three goals in the game’s first two minutes, Azevedo was held to one goal

the rest of the way, and that goal came on a penalty shot with 1:18 left.

The Sea Kings (4-0), ranked No. 6 in the Southland by The Times,

overcame a costly lapse in the waning moments of the third period. They

outscored the No. 7 Bruins, 3-0, throughout six minutes of the third, but

Wilson answered with two goals within 20 seconds, both in the final

minute.

The girls never stopped going after it on offense,” Chaney said.

“(Allowing the two quick goals) can break a team. It didn’t faze them.

I’ve seen that sort of stuff kill teams.”

Instead, Hewko won the fourth-period sprint and, 26 seconds later,

Bowlus fed a pass to Danielle Carlson, who scored the second of her two

goals.

On defense, Wells came up with five saves in the fourth period. With

less than three minutes left, she crushed any hope of a Wilson comeback

when she recorded a six-on-five save.

“I really did feel everything come together (for me),” Wells said. “I

really wanted to succeed. This team is coming together. I’m looking

forward to the rest of the season.”

Wilson (2-3) was 2 of 6 on six-on-five situations.

CdM junior Keelan Cuyler and senior Alexa Miller added one goal each.

After a 5-5 tie at halftime, CdM broke out with a 3-0 run, which

included a goal by Hewko off a Daniela DiGiacomo assist. Then, with 2:52

left in the third, Carlson threw one in, followed, 90 seconds later, by a

Carslon score when Bowlus found her breaking to the cage.

NONLEAGUE

Corona del Mar 10, Long Beach Wilson 8

Corona del Mar - Hewko 3, Bowlus 3, Carlson 2, Cuyler 1, Miller 1.

Saves - Wells 13.

Long Beach Wilson - Azevedo 4, Mota 2, Silver 1, Wenger 1. Saves -

Cheak 4.