Corona del Mar Falls to Long Beach Wilson

Corona del Mar versus Long Beach Wilson, the Southern Section Division I water polo title game that many envisioned, ended the way it seemed destined to--by one goal.

Third-seeded Wilson prevailed, 10-9, in front of 1,400 Wednesday night at Belmont Plaza, but the outcome wasn’t certain until Wilson’s Richard Westberg made a steal at the buzzer.

The score was tied nine times, but Keith Feldman’s goal with 5 minutes 19 seconds left in the fourth quarter gave the Bruins their final lead.

“It could have gone either way, but that’s how it has been all year,” Wilson Coach Ricardo Azevedo said.

The teams had met four times this season, with each team winning twice. Three of the games were decided by one goal.

The Sea Kings (22-5) appeared to have gained a little control early in the third quarter, taking a 9-7 lead, the only two-goal margin in the game.

Adam McFarland, who scored four goals, put the Sea Kings ahead, 8-7, with 5:35 left in the quarter and then Jeff Marchiorlatti scored at 5:19.

But Wilson’s Pat Cochran scored the next two goals, including a shot from six meters with 49 seconds left in the quarter.

Cochran, a senior who has more than 400 goals in his four-year career, scored four goals and junior Adam Wright scored three for Wilson (24-4).

“Adam Wright and Pat Cochran played very well,” Corona del Mar Coach John Vargas said. “We knew coming in that we had to stop those guys and we didn’t. That was the difference in the game.”

Another problem for the Sea Kings was their offense for most of the second half. Wilson forced 12 of the Sea Kings 22 turnovers in the half, and the Bruins’ sophomore goalkeeper Nicholas Hill made four saves in the fourth quarter.

Wilson’s Matt Aramato had six steals, including one that stopped a crucial Sea King possession with 1:27 remaining.

The Sea Kings had several chances to tie in the last several minutes, but their final good opportunity ended with a turnover with 50 seconds left.

Corona del Mar got the ball back with 13 seconds left and called timeout at three seconds, but goalkeeper Doug Jetton’s long pass was stolen Westberg an instant before time expired.

It was the second consecutive season Corona del Mar lost in the final, 10-9. El Toro won in overtime last year.

“I think we played a good game but they were better,” said Vargas, coaching in his eighth final in 12 seasons at Corona del Mar. “I don’t have a problem with the way the guys played. I have a problem with the outcome.”