O’Toole Continues to Pace South Team

Maureen O’Toole, the leading scorer in women’s water polo at the National Sports Festival, continued her sensational play, Tuesday, leading the undefeated South team to two victories.

O’Toole, of Huntington Beach, scored on a breakaway with nine seconds remaining, giving the South a 10-9 victory over the West in a third-round game. It was her second goal of the game, and gave her 13 in three tournament games.

Then, she increased her goal total to 17, collecting four goals as the South trounced the North, 10-4, improving its record to 3-0-1.

O’Toole, who has scored more than twice as many goals as any player in the tournament, put her team ahead to stay, 4-3, with her third goal of the game, at 2:37 of the second period.

Val Dominguez of San Antonio, scored three times for the South, giving her seven goals in Tuesday’s two games.

South Coach Aaron Chaney said Dominguez’ increased production is a result of opposing teams concentrating on trying to stop O’Toole.

“When she (O’Toole) plays the hole (the position in front of the goal mouth), the other teams try to jam her up,” Chaney said. “We’ve been moving her outside, and they’re following her and leaving the middle open.”

Yolanda Gascon of Commerce, scored two goals for the North (1-3).

In the South’s victory over the West, Dominguez scored four times, and three-time Olympic swimmer Jill Sterkel of Austin, Tex., tallied twice.

The West was led by Californians Debbie Witt of Norwalk and Margo Miranda of Commerce with two goals apiece.