CdM wins season’s first battle

Steve Virgen

There are several indications the Corona del Mar High girls water

polo team will be different from last year, but there is still one

attribute that remains: composure.

The Sea Kings never seemed to panic against nonleague visitor

Arlington Wednesday, even when the Lions came within 8-7 with 4:06

remaining. Katie Kubas scored her second goal of the game with 2:28

left and CdM held on for a 9-7 season-opening win.

Sophomore Camille Hewko provided the assist, a smart pass. It was

during a six-on-five situation. Hewko’s shot was deflected, she

grabbed it and delivered a soft-touch pass to an open Kubas, two

meters in front of the cage.

The Sea Kings will need plays like that. CdM lost seven players to

graduation from last year’s team. They helped lead the Sea Kings to a

CIF Southern Section Division II championship. Now, it seems the

program is starting anew. Among other things, the team has different

swimsuits -- pink and blue checkered outfits that definitely stand

out.

On the team, in addition to Hewko and Kubas, there are young CdM

players stepping up, such as junior Jordan Anae. She led the Sea

Kings with three goals and, despite feeling a bit under the weather,

provided glimpses of her talent and potential.

“I’ve seen her play more aggressive,” said CdM Coach Aaron Chaney,

who is in his third year. “I was impressed [the Sea Kings] did not

get rattled. They stayed composed. They kept on counterattacking.”

Chaney also respected Arlington, saying the Lions never gave up

and have improved from last year. The Sea Kings defeated Arlington,

13-2, in last year’s season opener. But the Lions (0-1) consistently

contended throughout Wednesday’s game.

They led, 4-3, after one quarter, as they scored two goals on lob

shots, but CdM goalie Brittany Fullen, a junior who is a returning

starter, made adjustments, as did the Sea Kings.

CdM outscored Arlington, 3-0, in the second quarter, mainly

because of its effective counterattack. Each goal came after a

Arlington turnover. Hewko recorded a steal and then came up with the

assist to senior Vivian Liao for one of her two goals. Liao and Hewko

had two steals each.

Liao’s goal tied the game, 4-4, and with 3:12 left before

halftime, Anae connected on a skip shot, shortly after Arlington had

a shot-clock violation.

With 56 seconds remaining before the half, sophomore Ashley

Chandler made good on a breakaway that came after her steal. She spun

just before shooting to get the goalie out of position and fired in

the ball for a 6-4 lead.

Kubas and Liao scored in the third quarter. Liao hit an outside

shot with 34 seconds left in the third to give the Sea Kings an 8-5

lead, but the Lions came storming back early in the fourth quarter,

scoring two goals in less than a minute. But, Fullen, who recorded 14

saves, including 10 in the second half, led the Sea Kings’ defense

that turned away Arlington.

“The girls countered really well,” Chaney said. “We made some

adjustments in the second quarter. [The Lions] didn’t back down. I

don’t think we were expecting them to be that feisty.”

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Nonleague

Corona del Mar 9, Arlington 7

Score by Quarters

Arlington 4 0 1 2 -- 7

CdM 3 3 2 1 -- 9

Arlington -- Frish 3, Owens 2, Behzadian 1, de

Jonckheere 1. Saves -- Davis 4. CdM -- Anae 3,

Liao 2, K. Kubas 2, Hewko 1, Chandler 1. Fullen

13.

*--*