No pressure on Sea Kings

IRVINE ? The weight doesn’t bother them.

The members of Corona del Mar High’s girls’ water polo team have strong legs. They can propel themselves out of the water to block shots and score goals despite opponents clinging on.

So the pressure that sits squarely on their shoulders to win a fifth straight CIF Southern Section title ? it would be four consecutive in Division II ? is not a burden.

Continuing to display a powerful counterattack, Corona del Mar proved it was up to the task of defending its title, plowing into the championship game with a 17-3 rout of Palos Verdes on Friday at Heritage Park.

“There’s pressure,” senior Camille Hewko said. “We can handle it. We always strive to be the best.”

Corona del Mar (26-3) has bested its opponents by a 49-6 margin in three playoff games. Next, CdM will face Villa Park (25-7) at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Belmont Olympic Pool in Long Beach.

The Sea Kings once again used a balanced attack with 10 different players scoring goals. Katie Indvik led the way with four goals. All 21 players logged time in the pool.

Getting everybody playoff experience was one of the motivators for senior goalie Tumua Anae, who left at halftime with five saves.

“Everybody works hard so we can all have an opportunity to play,” said Anae after complimenting her replacement, Kate Baldoni, who had four saves.

Corona del Mar defeated Villa Park, 11-4, nearly a month ago, but the Spartans are 9-2 since then, including seven consecutive wins.

CdM Coach Aaron Chaney said he was happy his team played the first semifinal, allowing him to view the Spartans in their most recent contest.

“They have been playing well since we beat them,” Chaney said. “Our girls will be ready.”

At halftime, the Sea Kings led, 11-0, and it was 14-0 before Palos Verdes scored its first goal with two minutes remaining in the third period. After the game, Palos Verdes Coach Chris Murin called CdM the best team his players have faced all season.

“I have a lot of respect for their program,” he said.

Chaney said one of the keys to the Sea Kings defense was Ashley Chandler, who also scored two goals.

“She did a really good job of fronting,” he said. “They had a hard time getting offensive position.”

With the defense stifling, the Sea Kings wasted no time kicking its counterattack into gear. In the beginning, though, Palos Verdes kept defenders in tight on its own goal to stop the counter.

Facing a zone defense, CdM took its time waiting for holes to open and then fired away. Taylor Harkins bided her time with the ball raised in the air before she fired it in for a 4-0 lead.

Palos Verdes tried to attack back, but the plan worked in opposite as Anae launched herself out of the water for the save. Anae then passed the length of the pool to Hewko, who whipped the ball over to Indvik for a score and a 5-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

“Our defense was phenomenal,” Anae said. “We always come with our counterattack.”

The Sea Kings kept pushing into the second quarter. Anae hit a backstroking Hewko at mid-pool and she immediately passed to Cari Levine, who skipped it in. Anae then threw a length-of-the-pool pass to Indvik, who was ahead of the defense, for another score and a 7-0 lead.

With the counterattack working, Palos Verdes was forced to sit back near the goal on defense. Returning to the zone just allowed the strong-armed Sea Kings to pick apart the defense from afar.

Palos Verdes finished with a 22-10 record.