Sailors triumph

Steve Virgen

The Newport Harbor High Sailors had revenge on their minds, but they

wanted to make sure they took care of Long Beach Millikan in the

first round of the CIF Southern Section Division I boys water polo

playoffs.

They wanted to make sure they continued, as their coach would say,

to peak at the right time.

The Sailors, though they were not as efficient as they wanted to

be on six-on-five opportunities (0 for 3), used a dominating defense

and an explosive counterattack to defeat Millikan, 17-6, Thursday at

Corona del Mar High.

After defeating the Rams (18-7), Newport Harbor turned its

attention to El Toro, the Sailors’ next opponent which defeated them,

9-8, in last year’s quarterfinals.

This year’s quarterfinal game will be Saturday at a site to be

determined by coin flip. The game is scheduled to start at 3:15 p.m.,

but that is subject to change.

“It’s going to be a battle,” Newport Harbor Coach Jason Lynch

said.

Added senior team captain Michael Bury: “I want revenge from last

year. It will be a good game. I won’t say anything to jinx us, but I

want revenge.”

Bury, who scored three goals, was one of several Sailors who

seemed to have stepped up their intensity and efforts for the

playoffs.

“We’re a lot more tapered right now so we’re in a lot better

spirits,” said Bury, a U.S. youth national team member who earned

All-CIF Division I honors last year. “We’ve had the talent the whole

time but right now it’s starting to come out and we’re starting to

break through. Like coach has said, we’re starting to break down the

door.”

Junior goalie Michael Robinson, who recorded 10 saves and was instrumental in the Sailors’ counterattack, also believes the Sailors

have what it takes against El Toro.

“We’re ready for them,” Robinson said. “We’re really strong right

now and we’re on a high. We’re ready for anything they got.”

Bury and Robinson weren’t the only ones starring for the Sailors,

as eight different players scored goals for Newport (17-10).

Sophomore Clay Jorth, a national cadet team member, led the Sailors

with five goals and avoided his third ejection after getting his

second kick-out with 1:40 left before halftime.

Seniors Morgan Laidlaw, Bryan Auer and Andrew Belden scored two

goals each, while seniors Sean McGhie and Griffin Gentry added one

goal each. Matt Oka, a junior varsity call-up, also had a goal.

“Our counterattack is excellent and we’re very explosive right

now,” Lynch said. “We’re doing a better job of controlling the ball

and playing team defense. I think we’re coming along.”

Newport Harbor built a 3-0 lead and never let the Rams in the

game, seemingly putting it away with an 8-2 halftime lead. Auer,

Jorth and Bury scored goals in the third quarter to definitely secure

the win.

*--*

CIF Division I playoffs First round

Newport Harbor 17, Long Beach Millikan 6

Score by Quarters

Millikan 0 2 2 2 -- 6

Newport 3 5 3 6 -- 17

Millikan -- Mattingly 2, Seisolove 1, Fandrich 1.

Saves -- Kinnear 10. Newport -- Jorth 5, Bury 3,

Laidlaw 2, Bry. Auer 2, Belden 2, McGhie 1,

Gentry 1, Oka 1. Saves -- Robinson 10, E. McLain

1.

*--*