Marina Falls to Top-Ranked Wilson

Marina Coach Dave Carlson said his team had nothing to lose entering Saturday’s final games of the Irvine Southern California Championships girls’ water polo tournament at Irvine High.

Still, Marina fought its way into the final and extended Long Beach Wilson to overtime before succumbing, 6-4, in the championship game.

Wilson (24-0), the top-ranked team in the Southern Section Division I poll, eventually wore down Marina (20-5), ranked second in Division I.

“Wilson has no weak links,” Carlson said.

Wilson’s Cat Bell scored three goals and Kate Campbell added two for the Bruins. But neither player made the all-tournament team. Teammate Brianne Barth was named outstanding field player and Jenny Stuart also earned all-tournament honors.

Bell erased Marina’s slim lead in the fourth quarter, scoring the tying goal on a four-meter penalty shot with 4 minutes 46 seconds remaining. Bell also drew the third ejection on Marina’s Cara Chlebicki, one of the Vikings’ top defenders, to set up the penalty shot and force Chlebicki to sit out the rest of the game.

Although the Vikings got goals from Erin Wilson, Rebecca Miller, Kendra Shanley and Jenny Lamb to build a 4-2 lead through 2 1/2 quarters, Wilson took advantage of the mismatch and scored four straight goals to close it out.

The Vikings reached the final by toppling previously unbeaten Santa Barbara (22-1), the top-ranked team in Division II, 4-2, in the semifinals.

Although the Vikings couldn’t follow that victory with one over Wilson, Carlson was still upbeat and hinted that Marina wouldn’t mind meeting Wilson in the Southern Section playoffs that begin in two weeks.

“It took us three times to beat Santa Barbara,” Carlson said. “And we lost, 8-3, the first time we played Wilson this season, so maybe the third time with Wilson . . . “