Sailors use Back Bay rally

CORONA DEL MAR — The Newport Harbor High girls’ water polo team slept a little better last night.

And longer. There was no need to wake up at 5:30 a.m. for practice. That’s because the Sailors defeated Back Bay rival Corona del Mar, 6-5, Thursday and, as promised by Newport Harbor Coach Bill Barnett, received the morning off from practice.

“That’s the real incentive, just kidding,” Newport Harbor junior Mimi Bury joked.

There will still be an afternoon practice for the Sailors (2-2), ranked No. 4 in CIF Southern Section Division I, giving the team a chance to pore over their comeback victory.

Newport Harbor senior Sarah Roberts scored three goals, Bury had two, junior Jessica Robinson added another goal and senior Jillian Chiapuzio dished out four assists to help the Sailors erase a 2-1 halftime deficit.

“We knew we had 14 minutes left. It can change,” Roberts said. “We were so pumped up. This was the Battle of the Bay. It was one of the things on our list.”

Corona del Mar (3-2), the No. 3-ranked team in Division I, controlled the majority of the contest, falling behind for the first time with five minutes, 59 seconds remaining in the game when Newport Harbor took a 4-3 lead.

Senior Cari Levine had two goals for the Sea Kings, while senior Leilani Livingston, sophomore Heather Van Hiel and senior Paige O’Brien each scored.

“We came out with a lot of intensity in the beginning,” Levine said. “Toward the end of the third quarter, we let them push us out. Our releases weren’t in unison so we couldn’t pass. Everyone gave it their all. It’s always a good game. We were really excited because this was the seniors’ last official game against them. Next time we need to keep our intensity up.”

The majority of the players on both sides faced each other over the summer playing for their respective club teams, adding intensity to the rivalry. But the rivalry remains in the water, players said.

“They don’t egg our cars or anything,” Bury said. “We played them a couple of times during the summer. Inside the pool, it’s intense. The whole game you couldn’t take a breath.”

Levine agreed.

“We’re all really close,” she said. “It’s a good, healthy rivalry.”

Corona del Mar Coach Aaron Chaney was disappointed his team could not capitalize on six-on-five opportunities and allowed Newport Harbor to score three goals in the fourth period.

“I don’t know what positives to take from this,” Chaney said. “Newport is a physical team and we need to be physical with them. The girls need to learn to have a sense of urgency. We have to work harder on six on five. It wasn’t any lack of effort. We left people open in front of the goal. It was little mistakes in front of the goal.”

Newport Harbor scored three unanswered goals in less than six minutes from late in the third to halfway through the fourth period to take a 5-3 lead. All three came from at two meters.

Corona del Mar had a chance to tie the game after gaining possession with six seconds left, but could not get off a shot.

“We had really strong defense,” said Roberts, who also recorded four steals. “Coach has been telling us to press. He wants us to look at what’s going on with the whole game.”

Junior Morgan Vickers had five saves for the Sailors and senior Marisa Cottam had six steals and two assists.

For CdM, sophomore Kate Baldoni and senior Kate Murphy each had two saves.

Next up for both teams is the Newport Harbor-Corona del Mar Tournament which begins Friday Dec. 29.

“That’s a big tournament,” Levine said. “We just need to work on driving.”

Nonleague

Newport Harbor 6, Corona del Mar 5

Score by Quarters

Newport 0 1 2 3 — 6 CdM 1 1 1 2 — 5

Newport Harbor -- Roberts 3, Bury 2, Robinson 1. Saves -- Vickers 5.

Corona del Mar -- Levine 2, Livingston 1, O’Brein 1, Van Hiel 1. Saves -- Muphy 2, Baldoni 2.