Patience Proves to Be a Virtue as Marina Wins

Marina waited one year for a rematch, and its patience and hard work paid off with a 4-2 victory over Los Alamitos in a Sunset League girls’ water polo game Wednesday at Golden West College.

The Vikings (15-4, 3-0 in league), the top-ranked team in the county, used a stingy defense and goals from three freshmen--Cara Chlebicki, Erin Wilson and Kendra Shanley--to help topple the fourth-ranked Griffins (12-5, 2-1).

Late in the first quarter, Chlebicki and senior Rebecca Miller scored goals in a span of 1 minute 10 seconds to put Marina ahead, 2-0, and the Vikings held on.

The victory avenged a 3-2 sudden-death overtime loss to Los Alamitos last season. The Griffins went on to finish 24-0 and won the season-ending Irvine Southern California Championships meet.

“It meant a lot to win this one,” Marina Coach Dave Carlson said. “I knew it would be a close game. Luckily, we came out on top this time.”

Thanks, largely to the Vikings’ tough defense.

Through three quarters, Marina held Los Alamitos to 11 shots on goal--five coming from goalie Jackie Frank on length-of-the-pool shots.

Frank was dominant, making 16 saves to keep the Griffins close. But Los Alamitos couldn’t generate enough offense.

“We only converted on two of seven six-on-five situations and one goal was a four-meter [penalty shot goal by Shelli Linza],” Los Alamitos Coach Tony Martinho said. “We had our chances.”

With 1:09 remaining in the second quarter, Los Alamitos’ Amy Valois scored to convert a six-on-five to make it 2-1. But 21 seconds later, Wilson scored from outside to give the Vikings a two-goal cushion again.

With 6:07 remaining in the fourth quarter, Marina goalie Candice Chick was ejected. Los Alamitos couldn’t convert and didn’t even get a shot off.

Then Shanley scored with 3:03 remaining to make it 4-1 to help put the game out of reach. Linza scored in the final minute.

In another Sunset League game:

No. 9 Esperanza 12, Huntington Beach 1--Andrea Griffith scored four of her five goals in the third quarter when Esperanza outscored Huntington Beach, 5-0, to take a 10-goal lead. Caroline Guidi had three goals and three assists for the Aztecs (10-5, 2-1).

In the Empire League:

Katella 16, Loara 3--Julie Avila, Josie Hoien and Devon Wright each scored three goals for host Katella (10-6, 3-0).