Mission statement

Bryce Alderton

Newport Harbor High girls water polo players entered this week with

renewed vigor and an altered outlook following a loss that could

serve as the turning point of their season.

Santa Margarita knocked the Sailors from the top of the CIF

Southern Section Division I standings with an 11-10 victory over

Newport at the buzzer Friday, lifting the Eagles from third and into

the No. 1 spot.

The Sailors dropped to No. 2 in the Division standings, but their

intensity and motivation only heightened after the loss.

Visiting Laguna Hills found that out first-hand against the host

Sailors Wednesday.

Behind four goals each from Kally Lucas and Anne Belden, Newport

remained undefeated and in position to win the Sea View League with a

convincing 17-3 victory over the Hawks.

The victory continued a week that began Monday with grueling, but

productive practices for the Sailors (19-2, 4-0 in league), said

senior Melissa Wheeler, who scored twice and added three assists

against the Hawks (16-5, 2-2).

“We needed that loss [to Santa Margarita],” Wheeler said. “Monday

and Tuesday we had more intensity in four workouts than we had in 11

practice weeks. The season is almost over and every team that steps

up can beat us if we aren’t focused.”

Junior Leah Robertson, who tallied three goals with two assists

and two steals against Laguna Hills, called Friday’s loss “humbling,”

but beneficial.

“We were at an all-time high,” Robertson said. “[The loss] brought

us down out of the clouds to where we have to focus on getting our

seed and ranking back up.”

The Sailors, who can win the league title outright with a victory

over Woodbridge in the league finale next Wednesday, took a step, or

better yet, a sprint, in the right direction against Laguna.

The Hawks were helplessly caught in a flurry of Newport

counterattacks often instigated by Sailors filling passing lanes.

Newport finished with 18 steals, with Belden (five) and senior

Ashling Taylor (four) leading the way.

The pressure-packed defense resulted in a four-goal surge within

the first two minutes of the third quarter to turn Newport’s 7-1

halftime lead into an 11-1 cushion following Belden’s fourth goal.

“We had lots of energy,” Wheeler said.

The Sailors outshot the Hawks, ranked ninth in Division I, 32-10.

Newport occasionally dropped four players to surround a goal

protected by Kendal Nelson (one save) in the first half and Elizabeth

Layton (three saves) in the final two quarters.

“[The Hawks] threw the ball away more [in the second half] and we

capitalized on that,” said Newport Coach Bill Barnett, who commended

his players’ work ethic in recent workouts.

“Their energy level in training is higher now,” Barnett said.

“Their work ethic has improved since [Friday’s] loss with intensity

and sharper practices.”

Taylor scored twice while Bryndis Klein and Jessie Womble each

added single goals in the fourth quarter. Klein’s goal came with no

time left after she rebounded Robertson’s shot that caromed off the

crossbar.

The Sailors look to continue their inspired play when they face

Capistrano Valley in the first round of pool play in the 32-team

Irvine Southern California championships at 3 p.m. today at El Toro.

Sea View League

Newport Harbor 17,

Laguna Hills 3

Score by Quarters

*--*

LH 0 1 0 2 -- 3

Newport 3 4 6 4 -- 17

*--*

LH -- McGinley 1, Schellinger 1, Cuk 1. Saves -- Bosler 6.

Newport -- Belden 4, Lucas 4, Robertson 3, Wheeler 2, Taylor 2,

Klein 1, Womble 1. Saves -- Layton 3, Nelson 1.