Wilson for real

Steve Virgen

The first game of the Newport Harbor High boys water polo team’s

season revealed several truths about the Sailors.

Truth No. 1: “We have a lot to work on, obviously,” Newport

second-year coach Jason Lynch said after the Sailors lost, 18-9, to

nonleague foe Long Beach Wilson at Belmont Plaza Tuesday night.

“Our extra man (offense) was not very good,” Lynch said. “We were

2 for 8 and that’s not going to get it done. If we score those, then

we would be in the game and we would gain momentum. Offensively we

weren’t productive. It’s going to take some time and some work (to

improve).”

Meanwhile, Wilson, the top-ranked team in CIF Southern Section

Divison I, completed a brilliant performance for its opener.

The Bruins built a 7-2 lead with 4:26 left in the first half and

they hardly worried when the Sailors, ranked fifth in CIF Division I,

went on a 3-0 run. Wilson, which starts five seniors, also used an

aggressive defense that led to 13 steals and sparked several

successful counterattacks. The Bruins went 4 for 6 in man-up

situations.

The Sailors started three seniors, including Nathan Weiner, who

led the team with three goals. Wilson senior Garrit Barth scored a

game-high five goals.

Newport answered its 7-2 deficit with a 3-0 run in a 64-second

span in the second quarter. Weiner started the spurt when he scored

after retrieving a loose ball with 1:59 left in the first half. After

a Wilson turnover, Laidlaw, a junior, scored on an outside shot from

about eight meters out. Auer, also a junior, capped the run with a

deft shot from six meters out with 47 seconds left.

However, Wilson scored with 23 ticks remaining when sophomore

Scott Swanson scored one of his three goals on a 6-on-5 situation.

The Bruins maintained their momentum in the second half, outscoring

the Tars, 3-0, at the outset.

Newport junior Michael Bury scored from set with 2:39 left in the

third quarter, as the Sailors trailed, 11-6. Bury finished with two

goals, matching senior Ross Sinclair’s production. Newport sophomore

goalie Michael Robinson recorded 10 saves. He slapped away

consecutive shots early in the third quarter, but the Bruins kept

coming.

Wilson scored five unanswered within the first five minutes of the

final quarter, and Bury and Sinclair scored a goal each.

NONLEAGUE

Wilson 18, Newport Harbor 9

Score by quarters

Newport Harbor 1 4 2

2 -- 9

Wilson 3 5 5

5 -- 18

NH -- Weiner 3, Sinclair 2, Bury 2, Auer 1, Laidlaw 1.

Saves -- Robinson 10.

Wilson -- Barth 5, Wilson 4, Swanson 3, Foster 3, Hale

2, Pettigrew 1. Saves -- Labounty 7.