Boys water polo: Sailors drop anchor on Laguna Hills

Tony Altobelli

NEWPORT BEACH - CdM game? What CdM game?

The Newport Harbor High boys water polo got its point across that the

loss to the rival Sea Kings on Saturday is a thing of the past and poor

Laguna Hills just happened to be in the way.

The result was a 17-2 Sea View League laugher for the host Sailors

that saw everyone on the Sailors’ squad dressed in a Speedo get some

playing time. A good chunk of them found the scoreboard as well.

Newport (11-4), ranked No. 2 in CIF Southern Section Division I,

jumped out to an 8-0 lead after the first quarter and rested its starting

group the rest of the way.

“It was nice to get that big lead early to give our younger guys some

varsity experience,” Coach Bill Barnett said. “Our ultimate goal is a CIF

championship so every win is important.”

Before all the players were completely wet, Newport got on the

scoreboard. Senior Steven Jendrusina scored off a pass from Ryan Cook

just 20 seconds into the contest to give the Sailors the lead for good.

After the Hawks hit the crossbar with a shot, Newport’s Joey Snelgrove

scored off a long pass for a 2-0 lead.

Cook made it, 3-0, off an assist from Kyle Bean 80 seconds into the

opening quarter.

The Sailors had 10 possessions in the first quarter and scored eight

times. Jendrusina had three goals and two assists, Cook had two goals and

three assists, Snelgrove added two goals and Caine Littrell had a goal,

all in the opening seven minutes.

From there, it was first-come, first-serve on the Hawks’ buffet.

Michael Vanderberg, Brett Armstrong, Brian Pentz and Jonathan Hwang

each scored two goals in the final three quarters, while Littrell scored

his second goal of the game late for the Tars.

“I was impressed with the way Brett played out there today,” Barnett

said of his first-time varsity player. “But all the younger players

stepped up and played well out there.”

Laguna Hills finally got on the scoreboard late in the fourth quarter

on back-to-back goals from Ryan Andrews, but it was way too little, way

too late.

Newport’s level of competition rises significantly with a Friday

matchup at Laguna Beach. The Artists are ranked No. 4 in Division II.

“Today was easy compared to Friday,” Barnett said. “Friday’s going to

be a big contest for us.”

SEA VIEW LEAGUE

Newport Harbor 17, Laguna Hills 2

Laguna Hills 0 0 0 2 - 2

Newport Harbor 8 1 3 5 - 17

Laguna Hills - R. Andrews 2. Newport - Jendrusina 3, Littrell 2, Cook

2, Snelgrove 2, Vanderberg 2, Armstrong 2, Pentz 2, Hwang 2. Saves - S.

Andrews (LH) 8; McLain (NH) 3, Johnson (NH) 4.