Sailors survive scare from Uni

Steve Virgen

It’s safe to say Newport Harbor High’s preparation for Wednesday’s

Sea View League boys water polo showdown with Foothill High was not

ideal, to say the least.

The Sailors struggled with a lineup that was not at full strength,

yet still managed to pull out a 10-9 nonleague overtime victory over

University at Corona del Mar High Saturday afternoon.

Newport Harbor senior Andrew Belden scored the game-winning goal

with 1:30 left in the second overtime period, taking a pass from Clay

Jorth on a six-on-five situation. Belden, a left-hander, caught the

right corner of the cage when he caught the goalie out of position on

an outside shot.

“It was a broken play,” said Newport Coach Jason Lynch, who had

called a timeout before Belden’s goal. “It was nice that he stepped

up and took the open shot. I was glad to see that he took advantage

of the opportunity.”

Lynch disciplined five players, including three starters, by not

letting them play for his own reasons. In addition, senior Bryan Auer

watched from the stands and is out for at least two weeks after his

appendix burst Sept. 28.

Lynch was disappointed because he had to play one of the five

players since senior Michael Bury was trying to overcome cramps in

the third quarter. However, the Newport coach was content that he got

his point across.

“I want them to learn,” Lynch said. “And, I want to have an

impression on them.”

If six players down wasn’t enough, the Sailors also lost sophomore

Telford Cottam, who picked up his third ejection and was majored with

five minutes left before halftime. Bury was dealt his second ejection

with five minutes left in the fourth quarter, but he was able to

avoid a third kick-out.

Bury scored a team-high three goals, while Belden and Jorth added

two each. Sophomore Trevor Armstrong, sophomore Brett Auer and senior

Morgan Laidlaw contributed one goal each, and junior goalie Michael

Robinson completed a standout performance, recording 12 saves.

Perhaps, his best save came with 1:07 left in the third quarter

when Newport led, 7-6. Robinson stuffed Brian Song’s four-meter

penalty shot. Song finished with four goals.

Newport (3-4), ranked No. 5 in CIF Southern Section Division I,

went up 8-6 when Brett Auer made good on a high-arching lob shot from

about 10 meters out, 20 seconds into the fourth quarter. However, Uni

responded with two goals in a 90-second span with four minutes left

in regulation.

Song’s lob-shot goal from about six meters out tied it up, 8-all,

with 3:10 remaining. Uni was called for a ball-under violation with

five seconds left and Jorth was open on the breakaway, but the

Trojans stole the ball and misfired on their last shot in regulation.

Song scored the only goal in the first overtime period, a backhand

shot in the hole with 1:51 left. However, the Sailors scored on their

first two possessions of the second overtime period. Jorth stole the

ball on Uni’s first possession and he found Laidlaw open on the

weakside.

On Newport’s second possession, Bury drew an ejection to set up

Belden’s goal on the extra-man chance. With 41 seconds left, Jorth

recorded another steal and Bury drew another kick-out to allow the

Sailors to run out the clock.

“They were down and tired, and there was a lot of frustration,”

Lynch said of his team. “But when the game was on the line they

showed a lot of character.”

The Sailors will face Foothill Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at CdM in a

game that figures to be a contest for the Sea View League title.

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NONLEAGUE

Newport Harbor 10, University 9, ot

Score by Quarters

University 2 2 2 2 1 0 -- 9

Newport 4 1 2 1 0 2 -- 10

University -- Mock 4, Song 4, Stearns 1.

Saves -- Cleeland 9.

Newport -- Bury 3, Jorth 2, Belden 2,

Armstrong 1, Bre. Auer 1, Laidlaw 1. Saves

-- Robinson 12.

*--*