This Time, Corona del Mar Wins in Water Polo

Considering recent history and what awaited the winner, Corona del Mar High School’s 12-7 victory at Newport Harbor Wednesday in Sea View League water polo was pretty anticlimactic.

The game was the last league regular-season contest for each team. Both entered the game undefeated. Translation: This was for the league championship.

The game also marked the teams’ second meeting in less than a week. On Saturday, Corona del Mar had beaten Newport Harbor in the final of the prestigious California State Invitational tournament at Palo Alto.

But drama soon drowned as Corona del Mar, ranked No. 1 in Southern Section 4A, broke out to a 3-0 lead in the first three minutes and led, 7-2, by halftime.

Chris Oeding scored the Sea Kings’ first two goals. Oeding, a sophomore, finhed with three goals. When Brad Thompson also put a shot in from the wing, the Sea Kings (26-0) were on their way.

With the score 4-2 after the first quarter, Corona del Mar outscored Newport Harbor, 3-0, in the second to take control. Eric Vinge, Chris Morgan and Bill Harmon each scored for Corona del Mar in the quarter, but a stifling defense allowed Newport Harbor, No. 2 in 4-A, only one shot on goal in the quarter. Corona del Mar goalie Jim Wagner had nine saves for the game.

“I really can’t point out one guy, our whole team played well on defense,” said John Vargas, Corona del Mar coach.

Newport Harbor drew to 8-4 by the end of the third quarter, but any thoughts of a comeback were quickly dashed when Corona del Mar outscored Newport Harbor, 3-1, to start the fourth quarter. Newport Harbor added two goals in the last 1 1/2 minutes to make the score respectable, but for all purposes, this was a blowout.

“I didn’t expect anything like this,” said Vargas. “But when you’re dealing with high school kids, you never know how emotion is going to affect the outcome. I thought we played a little more under control.”

Newport Harbor’s Robert Gifford had four goals to lead all scorers.

There may be yet another meeting between these teams in the Southern Section playoffs, which start Nov. 6.