Girls water polo: CdM tunes up for Harbor

Steve Virgen

CORONA DEL MAR - Who’s next?

Newport Harbor?

That’s who the Corona del Mar girls water polo team is getting ready

for on Friday as the Sea Kings warmed up with a 12-3 nonleague victory

over visiting Long Beach Poly Wednesday.

“We’ve been thinking about the Newport game,” said sophomore Danielle

Carlson, who scored four goals and had six steals. “But, we were just

trying to focus on this game first. And then, if we won this game, then

we would go on to beat Newport next time.”

Is that some sort of prediction?

“No, but we’re going to play well and it’s going to be a very good

game,” Carlson said hesitantly. “There’s a good chance (to win). I can’t

actually say that we’re going to beat them. We’re going to need mental

preparation for that game. Physically, we are ready for it.”

Carlson got CdM (5-1), ranked No. 5 in Orange County, on the

scoreboard two minutes into the game as she capitalized on the

six-on-five opportunity. Then with 2:17 remaining, the Sea Kings went on

a 3-0 run to close out the quarter and earn a 4-1 advantage.

CdM sophomore Christina Hewko, who finished with three goals, scored

to answer Poly’s first goal. And, less than a minute later, Brittany

Bowlus, who also scored three goals, threw one in.

Then, with 35 seconds remaining in the quarter, Carlson scored on

another six-on-five. And the Jackrabbits (3-4) would never recover.

“Our shooting was really on,” Carlson said. “We weren’t making a lot

of the mistakes that we’ve been making in our other games. We were

concentrating and playing heads-up water polo.”

CdM’s heads-up performance led to 27 shots on goal and, on defense,

Jessica Fries recorded three steals, one of which led to a goal as she

set up Jessica Harkins’ score for a 5-1 lead.

“The defense,” CdM Coach John Vargas said of what he enjoyed about the

win. “Alexis Miller drew a lot of ejections off of her drives. Jessica

Fries made a ton of steals out there. And then we had the usual from

Danielle and Christine scoring goals. And Bowlus did a great job.”

The Sea Kings actually had eight six-on-five opportunities, scoring on

five. Also, Poly ran out the shot clock on five occasions because of

CdM’s defense.

“Now we’re looking forward to Newport,” Vargas said. “We’re ready for

them. Newport (No. 4 in the county) is definitely playing well. It will

be a real nice test for us. It’s going to be a fun game on Friday.”

CdM will host its Back Bay rival Friday at 3:45 p.m.

NONLEAGUE

Corona del Mar 12, Long Beach Poly 3

Long Beach Poly 1 1 1 0 - 3

Corona del Mar 4 3 4 1 - 12

Long Beach Poly - Williams 2, Scott 1.

Saves - Robinson 10.

Corona del Mar - Carlson 4, Hewko 3, Bowlus 3, Daley 1, Harkins 1.

Saves - Wells 3.