Capistrano Valley Edges Los Alamitos

Capistrano Valley had plenty of opportunities to turn Tuesday’s showdown into a blowout, but Los Alamitos goalie Jackie Frank didn’t let it happen.

In fact, Capistrano Valley, ranked second in Orange County, had to rally from a two-goal deficit before notching the winning goal in the final three minutes to squeak past third-ranked Los Alamitos, 4-3, in a nonleague girls’ water polo game at Saddleback College.

Although Capistrano Valley outshot Los Alamitos, 37-14, the Cougars didn’t score the game-winning goal until Chelsea Rowlands fired a rebound of her missed shot past Frank into the upper right corner with 2 minutes 42 seconds remaining.

Rowlands got the rebound after her four-meter penalty shot caromed off the crossbar. The score capped the comeback after Los Alamitos’ Kenzi Hales scored twice in the third quarter to give the Griffins a 3-1 lead.

Frank, who had 16 saves, set the tone for the game in the first three minutes. Ashley Stachowski swam in on a breakaway, but Frank stopped Stachowski’s first shot from three meters, then snuffed her two rebound shots.

Although Los Alamitos (4-2) took only five shots in the first half, Amy Valois’ goal was good enough for a 1-1 tie with Capistrano Valley (6-2).

But Stachowski got her revenge in the second half, scoring her second goal with 31 seconds remaining in the third quarter, then her sister Amber scored the tying goal with 4:22 remaining to set up Rowlands’ game-winner.

After Rowlands’ goal, the Griffins had only one more good scoring chance, but Shelli Linza’s shot from the hole missed wide left.

“This team just gave me some more gray hairs,” said Capistrano Valley Coach Craig Fransen, who watched his team go scoreless on six man-advantage situations. “I think [Frank] surprised us a little, but we needed to skip some shots and we didn’t do that all night.”