Water Polo Playoffs : Marina Holds Off Tustin in First Round, 8-5

Dave Pickford, Marina High School water polo coach, thought being the fifth-seeded team in the CIF Southern Section 4-A playoffs would land the Vikings an easy first-round opponent Friday.

Think again.

Marina had to struggle against seventh-seeded Tustin, eventually defeating the Tillers, 8-6, at Golden West College.

The Vikings led, 6-3, in the third quarter, but Tustin chiseled the lead to 6-5, with five minutes remaining.

“That’s when my palms started to sweat,” Pickford said.

Scott Larsen scored 14 seconds later for Marina, and Mike Harris added a goal a minute after that to make the score 8-5. Larsen and Harris had three goals each.

Marina will play Newport Harbor in a second-round match Tuesday.

In other 4-A action:

Newport Harbor 9, Long Beach Poly 5--The Sailors (17-8) pulled away in the second period, outscoring the Jackrabbits in the quarter, 4-2. Newport Harbor’s Matt McLaren had three goals, as did sophomore Bob Gifford. Sailor goalie Jeff Woodruff had 12 saves.

Santa Ana Valley 21, Buena Park 11--Gerry Wines scored eight goals and Tim Howser added five as the Falcons defeated the Coyotes in a first-round match at Santa Ana High. Santa Ana Valley, the Century League champion, improved its record to 23-1. Reggie Torres scored eight goals to lead Buena Park. Torres finished the year with 123 goals, a Coyote record.

Sonora 11, Fountain Valley 7--Juniors Greg Olson and Brad Silver scored four goals each to lead the Raiders to the first-round win at Sonora. The Raiders (21-5) led, 3-1, after the first quarter, and scored five goals in the second. Olson and Silver had two goals apiece in the second.

Corona del Mar 9, Edison 1--Jason Likens and Frank McGeoy each had two goals to lead the Sea Kings (18-6) to an easy win at home. Sophomore goalie Jim Wagner had 10 saves.

Villa Park 9, University 7--Craig Ackley had four goals and three assists to lead the Spartans to the win at Belmont Plaza pool in Long Beach. Lance Larson added three goals for Villa park.

Long Beach Wilson 14, Foothill 2--The second-seeded Bruins had no trouble defeating the Knights at Belmont Plaza pool.