Mustangs rule

Roger Carlson

Considered one of the better kept secrets for the first-half of

the season, the Costa Mesa High Mustangs put on a show at Estancia

High with offensive firepower and a stifling defense to deal the host

Eagles a 21-4 lesson in Golden West League girls water polo

Wednesday.

Coach Tim Postiff’s Mustangs broke out of a 1-1 tie in the early

going and ran off seven straight counters, then finished the second

quarter with a five-goal run en route to the convincing victory.

“I thought we had an overall unselfish game with everyone

participating in the offense,” said Postiff, who watched his team

improve to 9-3, 3-0 in the Golden West League.

Katie Thorsness ruled the seas in the early going with four of her

seven goals coming in the first period.

Her fourth goal of the quarter was the signature moment as she

shook off some very strong defensive pressure by Carolina Barnes,

spun and drove it home.

A senior, Thorsness now has 43 goals on the season.

Postiff said he was surprised his team was able to burst out to

such an advantage, taking a 13-2 lead by halftime.

Estancia’s potential really never surfaced until the third quarter

when the Eagles, 1-7, 0-4), although falling further behind, appeared

to be getting stronger as the game wore on.

“We’re getting better,” said an upbeat Estancia Coach Bob

Bandaruk. “Most (14 of 23) of our kids have only been involved in

water polo since mid-November.

“They’ve been working their butts off and they’re getting better

every day.

“It takes time to build, but we have a lot of young kids and

they’re excited about it.”

On Wednesday, however, the buzz was coming from the Costa Mesa

fans, who watched Christine Twohig, Jessica Bunnell and Allyson

Harris each score three goals, and Allison Gravis and Jessica

Steenhard each connect twice to complement the Thorsness factor.

Also with a goal for the Mustangs, who had no substitutes, was

Perla Maraquin with one goal. Goalie Michelle Payne had 10 saves.

Estancia’s fortunes rested on two goals by Marilyn Reich and a

score by Laura Morton, as well as a half-court shot by goalie Katie

Mahan with seconds remaining.

Postiff, in his first year at Costa Mesa after coaching stints at

La Serna and Mark Keppel high schools, obviously had few concerns on

Wednesday.

“I thought we played well,” he said.

His team will host Garden Grove on Friday in a nonleague game,

then returns to league play on Wednesday, hosting Westminster.

Estancia’s next start in Wednesday when the Eagles travel to Orange.

In a Sea View League game Wednesday:

Newport Harbor High’s Sailors improved to 11-2, 2-0 in the Sea

View with a 14-4 victory over visiting Irvine.

A 10-0 halftime lead sealed the victory and the Sailors coasted in

the second half.

Anne Belden and Annie Wight each scored three goals and Jenna

Murphy and Raelyn Ritchie scored twice, while Jessica Ball, Paige

Lansing, Carolyn Conway and Ashley Parole each scored once.

Belden had three assists and two steals. Katie Erickson had two

assists.

Corona del Mar High’s Sea Kings were 16-8 winners at Laguna Beach

in a Sea View League match.

Danielle Carlson had six goals and four assists, Christine Hewko

had four goals and two assists and a steal. Carlson scored the first

three goals of the game to set the trend.

Corona del Mar, 2-0 in league, improved to 12-2.

The CdM frosh-soph was a 6-5 winner in sudden death overtime.

Golden West League

Costa Mesa 21, Estancia 4

Score by Quarters

Mesa 6 7 4

4 - 21

Estancia 1 1 1

1 - 4

Costa Mesa -- Thorsness 7, Harris 3, Twohig 3, Bunnell

3, Gravis 2, Steenhard 2, Maraquin 1. Saves -- Payne 10.

Estancia -- Reich 2, Morton 1, Mahan 1. Saves -- Mahan,

3.

Sea View League

Newport 14, Laguna Hills 4

Score by Quarters

Lag. Hills 0 0 2

2 - 4

Newport 5 5 2

2 - 14

Laguna Hills -- Parola 2, Sciarani 1, Rattee 1. Saves --

Dai, 7.

Newport Harbor -- Belden 3, Wight 3, Murphy , Ritchie 2, Ball 1,

Lansing 1, Conway 1, Parole 1. Saves -- Cottam 7, Murphy 2.

Pacific Coast League

CdM 16, Laguna Beach 8

Score by Quarters

CdM 4 5 4

3 - 16

Lag. Beach 0 4 1

3 - 8

CdM -- Carlson 6, Chr. Hewko 4, Harkins 1, DiGiacomo 1,

Bowlus 1, Ca. Hewko 1. Saves -- Fullen 9.

Laguna Beach -- Nelson 2, Doud 2, Preble 2, Moore 1, Rooklidge 1.

Saves -- Moore 9.