SOUTHERN SECTION 4-A WATER POLO PLAYOFFS : San Clemente Gets Its Wish: Capistrano Valley in Title Game

The San Clemente water polo team took another step toward a Southern Section championship by routing Dana Hills, 16-8, Friday at Belmont Plaza.

Make that a leap, not a step.

The Tritons (24-4) scored five goals in the first quarter, and led by as many as 10 goals in the final period.

San Clemente will play Capistrano Valley in Wednesday’s championship match at 8:15 p.m. at Belmont Plaza.

San Clemente avenged a 10-9 loss to the Dolphins this season.

Sean Lane led San Clemente, scoring seven goals.

Charlie Shortt tried to bring Dana Hills (19-4) back, scoring three of his five goals in the second quarter. But San Clemente countered with four goals, and led at halftime, 9-5.

“This was our second step,” San Clemente coach Steve Yancey said. “Beating Corona del Mar (in the quarterfinals) was the first, and now if we can get Capistrano Valley. . . . “

“We’ll play either team, but tonight, Capo was booing our players, cheering for Dana Hills, and they have made comments about us,” Yancey said. “Beating Capo in the finals would be the final step.”

In the other 4-A semifinal:

Capistrano Valley 13, Long Beach Wilson 12--Alex Lesser’s goal off a steal and feed from Trevor Rodin with 1:13 to play sent the Cougars (26-4) to the finals.

In a game that had seven tie scores, Wilson had a chance to tie the score in the final minute after Ben Blaber, who scored seven goals, scored on a four-meter penalty shot with 47 seconds to cut the lead to 13-12.

Wilson got the ball back with 15 seconds remaining, but Blaber’s pass to Luke Phair was stolen by Rodin, and Capistrano Valley ran out the clock.