Corona splits

Bryce Alderton

The Corona del Mar frosh-soph boys water polo team didn’t leave

much doubt about who would win a first-round match in the Gray Lunde

Frosh-Soph Invitational Water Polo Tournament Thursday at Newport

Harbor High -- the Sea Kings.

Corona built a 5-2 halftime lead and defeated Marina, 10-3, with

an effective counterattack and making eight steals to ignite breaks.

Spencer Pirdy tallied five goals and Thomas Pearson and Bryan

Buhagiar each scored two goals for Corona. Tom Money added one goal

and had two assists for the Sea Kings. James Blackwell and Walker

Russell also had one assist apiece. Goalie Gaston Sanford made four

saves, two at point-blank range.

“That’s the goalie we know that was playing at the beginning of

the season,” said Corona Coach Jason Hockenberry about Sanford’s

performance against Marina.

The Sea Kings led for a majority of their second-round match

Thursday night against Villa Park, but four fourth-period goals,

including the game-winner in sudden death, made Villa Park winners,

7-6.

Money and Pirdy each scored two goals for the Sea Kings, 12-4, 4-0

in the Pacific Coast League, and Chris Crawford and Pearson each

added one goal in the loss.

Pearson and Blackford added two assists apiece and Pirdy also

tallied an assist. Sanford made 10 saves.

Corona next plays either Santa Margarita or El Toro at 8 a.m.

Saturday at Newport Harbor.