Mesa owns fourth

COSTA MESA — Shortly before the fourth quarter began and with his girls’ water polo team trailing by a goal against its rival, Costa Mesa High Coach Tim Postiff emphasized a short speech to his seniors.

He reminded them that if they lost there would be no playoff appearance for them for the first time in their four years. Yes, playing against cross-town rival Estancia always pumps up the Mustangs, but Postiff’s words about the playoffs put them on another level of motivation. Or at least it seemed that way.

Costa Mesa scored six goals in the fourth — three from senior Briana Williams and two from senior Ashley Rendon — for a big 10-6 Orange Coast League win at Estancia Wednesday. The Mustangs (13-7, 2-0 in league) clinched second place in the four-team league and a spot in the CIF Southern Section playoffs.

“It was pretty intense,” Rendon said of the game. “They came to play and they really came to give us a run for our money.

“[In the fourth] we just kicked it into second gear. We knew this was something we really wanted to do and we really wanted to win, so we just put it into our own hands.”

Williams, who finished with a game-high four goals, said she felt nervous before the fourth because the Eagles had been playing so well.

“As a senior, I knew we should step it up,” she said.

Williams scored three goals in two minutes to give Costa Mesa a 7-5 lead, as Estancia (9-7, 0-2) couldn’t keep up. She hit the back of the cage on a six-on-five to open the scoring in the fourth. She then made good from two meters out taking a pass from Rendon on the weak side. Williams capped her run with another goal after it had appeared the ball slipped away from her hands when she attempted a pass. Rendon followed with a cross-cage goal. With 2:38 left, junior Hanna Speer scored from the corner and Rendon finished the scoring after taking a pass from senior Liz Simpson.

The Eagles, though they were brilliant through three quarters, withered in the final period.

Williams and Rendon said they thought Estancia still played hard in the final eight minutes, but Estancia Coach Jennifer Perry didn’t agree.

“We had a great third quarter where we held them, 3-0, but I think the energy level, we couldn’t stay at that level,” Perry said. “They beat us on the endurance. They kept moving and we were getting tired. It was a great game. I was really happy how the girls played. I think the girls played a great game.”

In particular, senior goalie Emily Kaplan had a standout performance for the Eagles.

She recorded 12 saves and six steals. Four of her saves came on five-meter, penalty-shot attempts. Late in the fourth period, Speer was called for a delay penalty on her five-meter penalty shot, but even after the whistle she fired the ball and Kaplan stopped it.

“[Kaplan] just really stood out today in terms of helping us,” Perry said. “It could’ve been a real different game without her.

“I think she has so much potential. She has been playing for four years, but you don’t see a lot of goalies like that without club experience. Just an outstanding job by her.”

Though the Mustangs misfired on their five-meter chances, they made most the most of their power-play opportunities, going three for three. And, they defended well in those situations, too, as Estancia went two for eight when it was a player up.

“It’s always intense when we play them,” Postiff said. “[Perry] has done a great job in basically a year and a half. [The Eagles] knew what was at stake as well. They came to play, which was awesome for them.”

The Eagles trailed, 4-2, at halftime, but outscored Costa Mesa, 3-0, in the third period. Junior Gracie Brestel, senior Amber Peters and senior Michelle Parsons scored one goal each.

Parsons and Peters finished with two goals each. Junior Kayci Decker contributed three goals for Costa Mesa.

Parsons will not be allowed to play in Estancia’s final game of the season, Wednesday against visiting Godinez, because she was assessed a major penalty. The referee said she was penalized for a minor act of disrespect when she appeared to have kicked Rendon after being called for a foul with 1:12 left.

The Eagles also lost senior Tyler Andrews with 4:15 left in the third period when she was called for her third foul.

Orange Coast League

Costa Mesa 10, Estancia 5

CM – Williams 4, Decker 3, Rendon 2, Speer 1. Saves – Bowen 5.

E – Peters 2, Parsons 2, Brestel 1. Saves – Kaplan 12.

To go to Steve Virgen’s blog, click here.

STEVE VIRGEN may be reached at (714) 966-4616 or by e-mail at steve.virgen@latimes.com.