Newport remains perfect

NEWPORT BEACH — Now that it has reached lucky No. 7, Newport Harbor High’s jinx watch is on high alert.

At 7-0, the girls’ water polo team has an enviable record to open the season.

Each passing game heightens the stakes to maintain a big doughnut hole in the loss column.

However, Friday afternoon, the Sailors hardly seemed ill at ease as they cruised to a 9-2 win over Santa Barbara in the quarterfinals of the Holiday Cup.

The Sailors went on an offensive tear Friday morning against first-round foe Cathedral Catholic of San Diego to win, 20-4.

It’s the best season-opening record senior Mimi Bury could remember. Eleventh-year coach Bill Barnett said he couldn’t remember the last time a season began so smoothly, either.

“I’ve been on varsity since I was a sophomore,” Bury said. “And I never remember having zero losses. It’s pretty cool. I don’t want to jinx anything.

“It definitely gives you confidence, and it kind of gives you something to strive for, ’cause you’re like ‘Oh we haven’t lost one yet. Let’s stay that way.’ ”

The Sailors dominated defensively by not allowing the Dons to get too many good looks at the goal, making it impossible for them to score an even-handed goal. Both Santa Barbara points were power-play scores. The Dons were two of three on power-play chances, while Newport Harbor capitalized on just one of five on player-advantage opportunities.

“In the beginning, they had this kind of odd offense where someone would set at the five-meter and they’d switch on offense and defense, but we eventually figured it out, and I thought we played pretty well,” Bury said.

Emily Martin scored the Dons’ second goal with 1:11 left in the game as a Sailor was serving an exclusion for Newport Harbor. Lindsay Parrish scored with 2:36 left in the third period when a Newport Harbor player was out.

Santa Barbara began to hem the Sailors’ offense in the fourth quarter, and senior Kimmy Morrison had the only shot of the period. Morrison beat a slough attempt with 4:01 left in the game to put the Sailors up, 9-1.

“A couple times, when the ball went into set, we didn’t get the shot off immediately, or get the kick-out immediately,” Bury said. “We let it mosey around and then it would eventually get stolen.”

Bury led the team with three goals and four steals, while Erin Reid and Mia Butera followed with two goals each.

Today, Newport Harbor will face one of their most challenging opponents thus far, Dos Pueblos of Goleta at 11:45, trying to extend its undefeated streak to eight.

“I’m sure we’ll get a little report on them before we play,” Bury said. “And we’ll step up our game to defeat them.”

Holiday Cup

Quarterfinal

Newport Harbor 9, Santa Barbara 2

SCORE BY QUARTERS

SB – Bury 3, Reid 2, Butera 2, Klippert 1, Morrison 1. Saves – Vickers 1, Miner 1.

NH – Parrish 1, Marth 1. Saves – Wise 5.

First Round

Newport Harbor 20,

Cathedral Catholic 4

SCORE BY QUARTERS

SB – Chisholm 3, Begley 1. Saves – Wilding 3.

NH – Robinson 3, Reid 2, Taylor 2, Klippert 2, Morrison 2, Gilchrist 2, Simons 1, Bury 1, Wheeler 1, Jarvy 1, Butera 1, Lincoln 1, McCall 1. Saves – Vickers 1, Miner 3.

SORAYA NADIA McDONALD may be reached at (714) 966-4613 or at soraya.mcdonald@latimes.com.