Sailors’ rally falls short in semifinals

IRVINE — The Newport Harbor High girls’ water polo team knew Foothill was beatable.

After all, it was the Sailors who handed the No. 1-seeded Knights their only loss of the season in December at the Holiday Cup.

“We had total confidence coming in,” said senior Sarah Roberts. “We knew their game.”

Pulling off another win, however, proved just a bit too much to accomplish on Friday night in the teams’ CIF Southern Section Division I semifinal playoff match at Irvine High.

Despite a scrappy effort from No. 4-seeded Newport Harbor, the Sailors ended up a goal short, 4-3, and will not defend their 2006 Division I crown.

They tried mightily, even after Foothill (28-1) took a three-goal lead in the first quarter on two power-play goals from Jessica Kutcher and another from Kathryn Bustard.

A comeback for Newport Harbor (20-10) seemed unlikely against Foothill goalie Amber Oland, who’s headed to Stanford.

“Amber’s so good,” said Sailors junior Mimi Bury. “We watched some film on her to try to spot out her weaknesses, but there aren’t too many of those. It’s a little intimidating playing against her.”

But a comeback was just what the Tars — and Bury — almost pulled off.

On Marisa Cottam’s pass, it was Bury who scored a backhand goal from two meters with nine seconds left in the first half.

And, it was Bury who scored on a lob shot with 5:49 left in the third quarter, bringing the Tars within one.

“We definitely kept pushing; it’s CIF,” said Newport Harbor junior Jessica Robinson, who had three steals and offered a different perspective on Oland. “We know that she is beatable. She’s not God.”

Meanwhile, Newport Harbor’s defense held the Knights scoreless in the middle two quarters. Bury (three steals), Roberts (two) and excellent two-meter defense from senior Allyssa Peterson, who added a steal, helped keep Foothill in check.

But Foothill’s Emily Klug scored a big goal with 4:56 left in the game, extending the Knights’ lead back to two.

Newport Harbor, meanwhile, went scoreless in its first nine power-play opportunities, until Jillian Chiapuzio scored the game’s final goal on a power play with 19 seconds left in the game.

“I thought we played good defense, and outplayed them for three quarters,” Barnett said. “We just didn’t execute our six-on-five. That’s the bottom line.”

Despite the loss, Newport Harbor’s season is likely not over. The Sailors should make the inaugural CIF Master’s tournament, March 2-3, also at Irvine High.

Foothill advances to play Montebello, an 8-7 winner over Corona del Mar in the other semifinal, in the Division I championship game on Tuesday at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach.

CIF Southern Section Division ISemifinal

Foothill 4, Newport Harbor 3

Score by Quarters

Foothill 3 0 0 1 — 4

Newport 0 1 1 1 — 3

Foothill -- Kutcher 2, Bustard 1, Klug 1. Saves -- Oland 9.

Newport Harbor -- Bury 2, Chiapuzio 1. Saves -- Vickers 5.