THE PREPS : Southern Section Water Polo : Costa Mesa Repeats as 2-A Champion

Costa Mesa High School successfully defended its Southern Section 2-A water polo title Saturday with a 16-7 victory over Harvard at Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach.

Returning All-Southern Section two-meter man Shane Coons had four goals, including three in the first quarter, when Costa Mesa opened the match with six consecutive goals.

“We went out and started playing well after the first minute or so,” said Coons. “I think our experience from last year helped us to prepare for this game.”

Costa Mesa’s Tony Litwak and Steve Kunst each had three goals, and Brad Kreutzkamp and Mike Kennedy scored two each.

Costa Mesa (24-6) led 9-2 at halftime over the Saracens, the first San Fernando Valley school to reach the final since Crespi won the title in 1981.

Mustang goalie Scott Taylor had eight saves and repeatedly started fast breaks that beat Harvard.

Costa Mesa extended its lead to nine goals midway through the fourth quarter.

“We were playing the way we wanted to,” Coons said. “We didn’t want to let up at all.”

Harvard (25-6) was led by Peter Richards, one of only two seniors who started for the Saracens. Richards had three goals.

“They came out and dictated the tempo of the game, and there was nothing we could do,” Harvard Coach Rich Corso said. “To play in a championship game like Costa Mesa (already) has means a lot. My kids came out very tentative.”

In its five playoff games, No. 1-ranked Costa Mesa outscored its opponents, 86-30.