Sea Kings push past Tritons

Rick Devereux

The Corona del Mar High girls water polo team actually wears light

blue swim suits, but it appears there is a red bull’s eye fashioned

somewhere in the team’s uniform.

The Sea Kings, ranked No. 1 in CIF Southern Section Division II,

had a grueling start to the season, playing Newport Harbor, Long

Beach Wilson, Santa Barbara, Foothill, Arlington and Santa Margarita

-- all teams ranked in the top 10 of their respective divisions.

Tuesday’s contest against visiting San Clemente was an easier

opponent, but CdM still had to play hard to escape with a 12-7

nonleague victory.

“I told the girls to come out and play hard,” Coach Aaron Chaney

said. “San Clemente doesn’t get to play an opponent like us very

often, so we knew they were going to give us all they had. We can’t

take anyone lightly.”

It was apparent from the get-go the Tritons had upset on their

minds as Emily Chambers lobbed in a goal 29 seconds into the first

quarter to give San Clemente a 1-0 lead.

The quick goal seemed to wake up the Sea Kings.

Jordan Anae scored on a penalty shot 21 seconds after Chambers’

goal to even the game and her goal from the wing with 5 minutes, 10

seconds left in the period gave the Sea Kings a lead they would never

relinquish.

A stifling CdM defense directly led to three more first-period

goals. The Sea Kings registered three steals and forced a shot clock

violation twice in the opening frame.

“CdM had great defense out there,” San Clemente Coach Donovan

Russell said. “They did a good job of cutting off our passing lanes.”

Cari Levine picked off a San Clemente pass, which led to Ashley

Chandler scoring on a breakaway to give CdM a 3-1 lead. Levine

finished with three steals, two assists an one goal.

Following goalkeeper Brittany Fullen throwing a long pass to Anae

after a shot clock violation made it 4-1, Anae stole a pass and

assisted on Levine’s goal from the two-meter area for a 5-1 lead.

Katie Indvik wrestled the ball away from the goalkeeper and lobbed in

another goal for a 6-1 advantage after the first quarter.

“I thought our girls did a lot of nice things out there,” Chaney

said.

The referees started to call a closer match, at least on Corona

del Mar, after the first quarter. The Tritons drew 11 CdM exclusions compared to three for the Sea Kings.

Even with the quick whistle working against them, the Sea Kings

were able to build a 10-3 lead heading into the fourth quarter and

grabbed a 12-4 lead with four minutes left in regulation. The Tritons

scored with a man-advantage twice and from the two-meter area for the

12-7 final.

Fullen finished with two saves, but she only faced five shots

through three quarters. Anae and Indvik each had three goals for CdM

(10-5) and Melinda Vogel countered with a three for San Clemente

(8-8).

The Sea Kings open Pacific Coast League action today when they

play host to Northwood at 3 p.m.

Nonleague

Corona del Mar 12,

San Clemente 7

Score by Quarters

San Clemente: 1, 1, 1, 4 -- 7

Corona del Mar: 6, 2, 2, 2 -- 13

San Clemente -- Vogel 3, Chambers 2, Chene 1, White 1. Saves --

Tatusko 8.

Corona del Mar -- Anae 3, Indvik 3, Livingston 2, Chandler 1,

Hewko 1, Hutchinson 1, Levine 1. Saves -- Fullen 2. T. Anae 1.