Eagles break through into playoffs

Estancia High’s girls’ water polo team has reached the postseason for the first time ever in school history.With four-time defending CIF Southern Section champion Corona del Mar girls’ water polo team and perennial powerhouse Newport Harbor dominating the girls’ water polo scene in the Newport-Mesa area, it’s no wonder Estancia often gets overlooked.

But this season, the Eagles finished the regular season 14-9, 4-2 in the Golden West League, tying for second place with rival Costa Mesa. Led by junior Melissa Buchmann, they also qualified for the CIF Southern Section Division VI playoffs for the first time in school history.

And they did it without a true home pool.

“Each year we have built on the previous one and continued to get better,” Eagles Coach Bob Bandaruk said. “Continuity in coaching and with the players has been a big factor.”

Buchmann scored 25 of her 70 goals in six Golden West League games for the Eagles. Her scoring total is more impressive considering the Eagles only played 22 games, significantly fewer than most of the top Southern Section teams.

Buchmann had help from senior captain Carolina Barnes (60 goals) and sophomore Meagan Kunert, who netted 23 goals despite missing half the season with a shoulder injury.

Kunert is the younger sister of Estancia boys’ water polo star Chad Kunert -- a Daily Pilot Dream Team selection in the fall -- but is an effective player in a different way than her brother was for the boys’ team. Chad Kunert was a strong two-meter set player with a blistering shot.

“Meagan is more of a sprinter,” Bandaruk said. “She can score but she also creates things for other people.”

Goalkeeper Katie Mahan is another reason for the Eagles’ success. Mahan, another senior captain for the Eagles, recorded 171 saves this season.

Set guard Chelsea Kaplan and sprinter Shea Kopp, along with juniors Chelsea Leon and Jackie Johnston were other key contributors for the Eagles.

The Eagles made the playoffs despite the fact that, like the boys’ team before them, they’ve practiced at night at Costa Mesa High and played their home games at Costa Mesa because the pool at Estancia is being rebuilt.

Bandaruk said Estancia’s pool has been out of commission since June. He was originally told the pool would be ready by November -- then January. Wednesday, he said the timetable is four to six weeks.

Regardless, the Estancia girls’ water polo program has made great strides, culminating in a CIF playoff berth.

“This year was made much more difficult by practicing until 9 p.m. in the evening through the winter. Many more girls would have come out for water polo if we would have had practice immediately after school at our own school,” Bandaruk said. “Despite this inconvenience, our girls improved dramatically from the previous season.”

The Eagles play at Corona Centennial (21-8) today in the first round of the Division VI playoffs at 3:15 p.m.”I’m sure they’ll be extremely tough, but if our girls are on, we’re tough to beat,” Bandaruk said.20060216iur70oncDON LEACH / DAILY PILOT(LA)Carolina Barnes, who has 60 goals this season, is a four-year starter for Estancia. The Eagles reached the playoffs for the first time in school history.