Sailors’ victory is sweet

LONG BEACH ? Going into Tuesday night’s CIF Southern Section Division I championship game between Newport Harbor and Montebello, no team had won a CIF Division I girls’ water polo title since 1999 besides Newport Harbor and Foothill.

Thanks to some big saves by Elizabeth Layton and a game-high seven goals by Kally Lucas, the streak stands.

No. 1-seeded Newport Harbor (27-4) jumped on No. 3-seeded Montebello early, surrendered more than one lead, then emerged with an electrifying 14-13 overtime victory to claim its third CIF championship.

It marked the highest scoring CIF Southern Section championship game in girls’ water polo history.

It also marked Newport Harbor’s third victory over Montebello in three tries this season. The Tars recorded a 10-7 win in the third-place game of the Irvine Southern California Tournament on Jan. 5 and a 6-4 nonleague victory Feb. 4.

But neither game was quite as riveting as Tuesday night’s showdown, which saw four lead changes. The Sailors trailed, 13-11, when Kally Lucas ? who netted six of her seven goals after halftime ? scored from outside in transition, then added a power play goal with 33 seconds left in regulation time to tie the score.

Lucas scored all four of the Sailors’ fourth-quarter goals.

“At halftime, I just realized I wasn’t shooting enough,” Lucas said. “I realized it was the last game of my senior year and that I’d better start shooting.”

Lucas was lurking on the outskirts of the two-meter area all game long on offense, where, for the most part, she was able to escape the double teams that teammate Calli Manderino drew at the two-meter set. Once Lucas started firing away, Newport Harbor’s chances of winning skyrocketed.

After a scoreless first overtime period, Montebello’s Daisy Carrillo (team-high six goals) fouled Manderino and Newport Harbor went on the power play. After Marisa Cottam’s shot was deflected out for a corner throw, the Sailors got the ball into the hands of Lucas on the left side, and Lucas whipped the ball just inside the near post to give her team a 14-13 lead with 1:28 left in the second overtime period.

“She is one of the greatest outside shooters I’ve ever seen in high school,” Newport Harbor Coach Bill Barnett said.

The Sailors clamped down in overtime and held Montebello, which was making its first CIF championship game appearance, scoreless in two overtime periods.

“I think our conditioning had something to do with it,” Barnett said.

Layton made four saves in the first overtime period, including two saves in close off shots by Diana Romero. Layton stopped Priscilla Orozco from point blank range near the end of the first overtime period.

“I kept telling myself, ‘Nothing goes in the net in overtime,’” Layton said.

Newport Harbor did not allow a shot when Montebello (24-7) went on the power play with 43 seconds leftAfter a long shot by Carrillo, Katie Kepner swam out the clock and the celebration started.

Barnett took off his shoes and hugged Lucas before they jumped into the pool together in an embrace.

“I was on the team last year when we lost in the championship game,” Lucas said. “This feels so much better.”

Last year, Newport Harbor beat Montebello, 12-8, in a Division I semifinal before losing to Foothill, 8-4, in the final.

Barnett was surprised to be a part of such a high-scoring game.

“I try to be more defensive-minded,” Barnett said. “I didn’t think we played good defense. We were dropping too much and allowing too many outside shots.”

Newport Harbor opened the game by netting four of its first five shots, including two by Leah Robertson.

The Sailors led, 5-2, after the first period before the Oilers went on a 5-1 run to take the lead at halftime.

Lucas tied the score, 7-7, on a goal just outside of two meters, then Manderino scored from two meters to give the Sailors an 8-7 lead with 3:49 left in the third quarter.

Montebello, a fast swimming team with several good shooters, climbed back into the game. The Oilers had leads of 11-9 and 13-11 before Newport Harbor closed out strong.