CdM aims for CIF crown against familiar opponent

Corona del Mar High has a chance to make history tonight in girls’ water polo.

The top-seeded Sea Kings (29-1) face No. 2 Dos Pueblos (27-3) in the CIF Southern Section Division I final at Irvine High at 8.

The Sea Kings return to their second straight Division I title match. They will try to claim their first crown in the top division after finishing runner-up last season.

CdM has won four Division II titles and one Division IV title in the program’s history.

This marks the fourth meeting between CdM and Dos Pueblos, which have each held the top ranking in the Division I coaches’ poll at one point or another this season. CdM holds a 2-1 edge in the series.

The last time these two played was at Irvine High, where CdM beat the Chargers, 8-7, in the final of the Irvine Southern California Championships on Feb. 7. Dos Pueblos, which won the Division II championship last season, played without star goalie Sami Hill, who was sidelined with a factured thumb.

Hill has returned for the playoffs. In her second match back, she helped Dos Pueblos hold on and beat defending champion Newport Harbor, 9-8, in the semifinals Wednesday.

The Sea Kings advanced to the final with a 7-3 victory against Foothill. This is second straight year CdM reached the final after beating Foothill in the semis.

The Sea Kings are hoping to win it all this time.

— David Carrillo Peñaloza