Sea Kings pound Foothill, 11-4

Richard Dunn

CORONA DEL MAR - With Corona del Mar High’s young Sea Kings

playing as if they were trying out for Coach John Vargas’ next Olympic

water polo team, it was barely a grudge match Friday against visiting

Foothill.

The Sea Kings, the top-ranked unit in Orange County and apparently

playing a notch higher since the return of Vargas from the Sydney Games,

pounded No. 4 Foothill, 11-4, in a nonleague game.

“They’ve got a lot of good talent, good young talent, and good

coaching, and it’s tough to beat them right now,” said 12-year Foothill Coach Jim Brumm, whose team (13-8) defeated CdM earlier this season in

overtime in the quarterfinals of the South Coast Tournament.

“They’re a strong team and they’re playing really well right now. (CdM

assistant coaches) Marc Hunt and Tim Salvino did a good job when Vargas

was with the national team. But, since he’s back, they’re probably the

best water polo team of anybody out there.”

Corona del Mar (11-2) snapped a 1-1 tie in the first series of the

second quarter, as junior Michael March (game-high four goals) scored

after skimming the post. It triggered a five-goal onslaught in the

quarter as CdM built a 6-1 halftime lead.

CdM’s smothering defense forced Foothill to come up empty on all five

of the Knights’ man-up advantages, while the Sea Kings converted on two

of three, including one in the waning seconds of the first half when

junior Bobby Messenger fired a strike from seven meters away to the back

of the net.

“Michael March usually plays the other team’s best man, or best set or

biggest guy, and that allows Artie (Dorr) and others to play good

perimeter defense,” said Vargas, whose defense is also sparked by

Messenger (two steals) and seniors Garrett Bowlus, Chase Emery and Chriss

Street.

Bowlus, who scored on a first-quarter penalty shot, gave CdM a 3-1

lead with 2:43 left in the second quarter on an outside shot, then March

scored on a counterattack with 2:00 remaining on a pass from Bowlus.

March added a penalty shot with 1:21 to play in the first half for a

5-1 edge, before Messenger’s six-on-five goal provided the hosts with

their five-point lead at the intermission.

CdM goalies Sherwin Kim and Beau Stockstill split time in front of the

cage, with Kim (five saves) playing the first half and Stockstill (10)

the second.

Foothill goalie Ian Elliott, a junior, recorded 10 saves, including

two four-meter shots.

In the third quarter, CdM pulled away with four goals, including three

in a row to open the second half as the Sea Kings constructed a 9-1 lead.

Emery, Street, March and junior Marcello Pantuliano scored for CdM.

March’s goal came on a backhand turnaround shot in the hole.

Foothill finally broke CdM’s scoring string when senior Blake Seymour

lobbed a close-up shot over Stockstill’s head on a counterattack.

Vargas, who returned home 11 days ago as head coach of the men’s U.S.

Olympic team, said he designed this year’s schedule so most of CdM’s

nonleague games against top teams, like Foothill, would be played later

in the season.

The Sea Kings host Capistrano Valley today at 2 p.m.

NONLEAGUECorona del Mar 11, Foothill 4Foothill 1 0 1 2

- 4Corona del Mar 1 5 4 1 - 11Foothill scoring: Fox 2,

Alexander 1, Seymour 1. Saves: Elliott 10.

Corona del Mar scoring: March 4, Messenger 2, Bowlus 2, Emery 1,

Pantuliano 1, Street 1. Saves: Kim 5, Stockstill 10.