Costa Mesa holds off Mater Dei, wins, 3-2

Rick Devereux

Even though Monday’s girls water polo match against Mater Dei High

held no league-standing implications, the Costa Mesa squad still had

plenty to play for.

“It will be nice to head into CIF [Southern Section Division VI

playoffs] with a high,” senior Sarah Bowman said.

The Mustangs, ranked No. 5 in the division, battled for a 3-2 win

at Costa Mesa, the final regular-season game at home for Mesa this

year.

“They wanted to win because it was their last home game this

season,” assistant coach Katie Thorsness said. “Most of the starters

are seniors and want to finish on a strong note.”

The Mustangs were under the guidance of Thorsness, who is also the

junior varsity coach, because Coach Tim Postiff was forced to stay

away from the match due to a red card he received in the last game, a

loss to Royal in the Bonita Whittier tournament consolation

championship.

“Any game you play without your coach is different,” Bowman said.

“Postiff is the coach we look to for guidance. Katie helps us out in

practice and I think she did a great job [coaching against Mater

Dei].”

Both schools came out sluggish in the first quarter. Mesa, which

improved to 18-9, recorded three shots on goal, while the Monarchs,

who fall to 10-13, mustered two.

Senior Carly Millian gave the Mustangs a 1-0 lead when her shot

found the back of the net 20 seconds into the second quarter.

Bowman widened the lead when she scored from inside the two-meter

mark with 4:47 left in the half. Junior Anne Le fed her a perfect

lead pass and Bowman blasted a shot inside the far post.

Bowman made it 3-0 when she turned and fired a missile from two

meters with 3:28 left in the third quarter.

“[Bowman has great] length and quickness,” Thorsness said. “She

has longer arms, so she is able to control the ball without the

defense disrupting her.”

The Monarchs seemed to be awakened by the deficit and played with

a sense of urgency for most of the second half.

Mater Dei drew five Mustang ejections in the second half. Costa

Mesa drew two the entire game.

The Monarchs turned one of the ejections into a goal when Brianna

Delfin placed her four-meter penalty shot into the upper left corner

with 1:38 left in the third.

Danielle Genzel made it 3-2 when she scored with nine seconds left

in the quarter.

The Monarchs had more chances in the final period. One penalty

shot ricocheted off the crossbar and Mater Dei was unable to

capitalize when the Mesa goalkeeper was sent off with an ejection.

The Mustangs were able to defend the open goal and remained calm

during Mater Dei’s surge in the second half.

“We knew they were a send-half team,” Thorsness said. “They have a

tendency to get better as the game goes on. We were able to hold them

off.”

Costa Mesa plays its final regular-season game Wednesday at 3:15

p.m. at crosstown rival Estancia. The outcome will do more than just

give the Mustangs a possible two-game winning streak heading into the

CIF playoffs. It will also sort out playoff seedings.

“We need to win that game so we can clinch second place [in

league],” Bowman said.

Nonleague

Costa Mesa 3, Mater Dei 2

Score by Quarters

*--*

Mater Dei 0 0 2 0 -- 2

Costa Mesa 0 2 1 0 -- 3

*--*

Mater Dei -- Delfin 1, Genzel 1. Saves -- Ruiz 7.

Costa Mesa -- Bowman 2, Millian 1. Saves -- Gentling 4.