SOUTHERN SECTION WATER POLO CHAMPIONSHIPS : Corona del Mar Rallies to Take 4-A Title

Corona del Mar High School, seeking a third consecutive Southern Section 4-A water polo titles, ran into a determined challenge Wednesday night.

Villa Park made all the right moves and got the breaks during the first half. But the Spartans couldn’t stand prosperity and the Sea Kings got their third title.

Corona del Mar put together a three-goal run in the third quarter, then held off the Spartans for a 10-9 victory at Belmont Plaza Pool.

“I love all the titles we’ve won equally, but I think I appreciate them more as I get older,” said Coach John Vargas. “I’ll have to think about whether I’ll be back next season.”

The Sea Kings (27-3) have won 19 of their past 20 playoff games. They also have won four of the past five 4-A titles.

But at the start, the Spartans (25-5) looked like the experienced team. Villa Park, which has never beaten Corona del Mar in eight tries, picked apart the Sea King defense and led, 5-4, at halftime.

The Spartans increased their lead to 6-4 with less than two minutes gone in the third quarter on a goal by Gavin Arroyo.

“I felt we were in fine shape at that point,” Villa Park Coach Jeff Ehrlich said. “Then everything fell apart.”

The Sea Kings scored three times in the last three minutes of the third quarter. Brandon Howald scored two of the goals, including a turn-around shot that gave Corona del Mar a 7-6 lead with 47 seconds remaining in the quarter. The Sea Kings never relinquished the lead.

A goal by Villa Park’s Eric Johnson cut the Sea King lead to 8-7 with 4:43 left. The Spartans had two opportunities to tie the score, but they turned the ball over on the first, and goalie Rob Pike made a diving save on the second.