SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION 2-A WATER POLO SEMIFINALS : Popov Steals Ball, Scores in Overtime to Help Costa Mesa Win

Julian Popov stole the ball from the goalie and scored with 1 minute 15 seconds left in overtime to help the Costa Mesa High School water polo team defeat Dos Pueblos, 14-13, in a Southern Section Division 2-A semifinal Saturday at Newport Harbor High.

“The shot was blocked by the goalie (Brice Daly) and was floating (it) in his hands,” Popov said. “I batted the ball out of his hands, and it just floated in for the goal.

After Popov’s goal, which gave the Mustangs a 14-12 lead, Dos Pueblos’ Adam Estrabrook scored on a penalty shot at 1:09. Dos Pueblos (16-10) had possession in the final seconds but failed to score when the 35-second shot clock expired.

Costa Mesa (18-9), the second-seeded team in Division 2-A, plays top-seeded South Pasadena, a 12-11 winner Saturday over Santa Maria, for the championship at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach.

With Costa Mesa trailing Dos Pueblos, 12-11, Corey Delahunt scored in the final six seconds of regulation play on a straight-in shot from the pool’s midpoint to force a three-minute overtime.

Tony Fekete scored six goals for Corona del Mar. Delahunt and Matt Yamashita had three each.