Sailors see two-goal lead slip away in semi

IRVINE — The Newport Harbor High boys’ water polo team had a stellar first half on Friday night in the CIF Southern Section Division I semifinals at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center.

In the second half, a physical El Toro team fought back.

El Toro’s Dave Van Boxtel netted the deciding goal with 3:23 left as the Chargers won, 6-5, capping a 4-1 run in the final two quarters.

“We definitely had a bunch of energy early, and we were countering and moving well,” Tars Coach Jason Lynch said. “But it’s tough to do that the whole game.”

Its CIF championship dreams dashed, Newport Harbor (24-6) now must hope for an at-large berth into the Southern Section Masters tournament, which begins Friday, for its season to continue.

El Toro (27-4) scored the game’s first goal when Spencer White fired a shot into the top right corner from five meters, giving the Chargers a 1-0 lead 5:13 into the game.

But Newport Harbor answered back on Collin Sherman’s goal from the left side as a six-on-five had just ended, knotting the score with 3:23 left in the quarter.

Sherman scored the Sailors’ first three goals of the game, including a lob-shot score and netted another on a power play after a pass from Clinton Jorth. The latter goal gave Newport Harbor a 3-2 lead with 1:33 until halftime.

“I think they came into the game thinking they’d push us over,” Sherman said. “After the first quarter, we saw we could play with them, and really beat them if we put our hearts to it. We’re not really disappointed in how we played, just the outcome of the game.”

After El Toro’s Will Milano was assessed an exclusion late in the first half, Newport’s David Linden scored from close in on a quick restart, giving the Sailors a 4-2 lead with 41 seconds left in the first half.

Griffin White scored a shot from the left into the near corner just 33 seconds into the second half, bringing the Chargers to within a goal. But after Brandon Parole scored a desperation shot from eight meters with the shot clock winding down, Newport had a 5-3 lead with 3:24 left in the third quarter.

Zach White then scored a six-on-five goal for El Toro, bringing the Chargers within 5-4 after three quarters.

Three of El Toro’s goals came in six-on-five situations.

“They won the game on their six-on-fives,” Lynch said.

Jorth said the Chargers toughened up when they saw that Newport Harbor wouldn’t roll over.

“I think they underestimated us at the start, so we were able to drive on them,” said Jorth. “We were catching them with some easy ejections, but they saw that we were here to play and they stepped up.”

Zach White scored again with 6:30 left in the game, despite the best efforts of Newport Harbor goalie Bryce McLain, who had a stellar 13-save night.

“It was a good defensive game,” Lynch said. “McLain played awesome. He’s got to be one of the top goalies of the division, easily.”

After a Newport Harbor timeout, Riley Hayes’ skipping shot from two meters went just wide right.

On the Chargers’ next possession, Van Boxtel scored the game-winner from the left side with 3:23 to go.

Newport was unable to get a shot on goal the rest of the way, as El Toro recorded three steals.

“At least we went out with a really good game,” Sherman said. “We really don’t have any reason to hold our heads down, but it’s sad for the seniors.”

But the five seniors — McLain, Hayes, Nick Yeager, Blake Hockenbury and Kyle McGhie — may play on. Lynch said he thought his Sailors have a good chance to take one of the four at-large spots — spread over all six Southern Section divisions — for the Masters tournament.

“I’m encouraged by my group,” he said. “We’ve made steady progress throughout the season, from September until now.”

CIF Division I

Semifinal

El Toro 6, Newport Harbor 5

Score by Quarters

Newport 1 3 1 0 — 5 El Toro 2 0 2 2 — 6

Newport Harbor -- Sherman 3, Parole 1, Linden 1. Saves -- McLain 13.

El Toro -- Z. White 2, Van Boxtel 1, S. White 1, Allen 1, G. White 1. Saves -- Hill 3.