Jackson Still Is Goal Oriented

Goals no longer come easy for Jeanine Jackson of Harvard-Westlake High, though she makes it look that way.

“For 2 1/2 years she was able to score at will,” said Rich Corso, coach of the Wolverines.

“Now everybody has figured out Harvard-Westlake is Jeanine Jackson.”

Jackson, a junior who has played girls’ water polo since it was sanctioned by the Southern Section three years ago, still scores goals in bunches.

Utilizing her speed, experience and instincts, the 5-foot-3, 135-pound driver averaged 4.5 goals a game despite being double-teamed throughout the season.

Whether she was near or far from the ball, Jackson drew a crowd. But she always made things happen for the Wolverines.

“She has great mobility and great end-to-end speed,” said Corso, who coached the U.S. men’s Olympic team in the 1996 Atlanta Games. “And a real gift for shooting.”

Jackson, who led Harvard-Westlake to the Mission League title, the Southern Section Division II semifinals and a 22-2 record, is The Times’ regional player of the year.

Facing tougher defenses didn’t slow Jackson until the postseason, Corso said.

“With the exception of the playoffs, she could do whatever she wanted to do,” he said.

Although playoff opponents gave Jackson a sterner challenge, she was never shut out.

Jackson, a member of the U.S. Junior National team, scored four goals in a first-round playoff game against Paso Robles and three goals, including the game-winner in overtime, in a 7-6 quarterfinal victory over Agoura.

An estimated crowd of 500 provided Jackson with all the inspiration she needed to score the winning goal.

“The crowd was amazing,” she said. “The largest crowd I’ve ever played in front of.”

Jackson and Harvard-Westlake were overmatched in the semifinals against top-seeded Santa Barbara, the eventual Division II champion, falling behind, 8-0, after three quarters. The Wolverines rallied in the final period, but fell short, 10-5.

It was an ending Jackson won’t soon forget.

“I’ve had bad dreams about it,” she said. “[Nightmares] of me working to get free.”

Jackson will get a chance to end those nightmares next season in the Wolverines’ opener against Santa Barbara.

“We’re going to start with who we finished against and see how much we improved over the summer,” Corso said.

With Jackson returning, the Wolverines have to feel pretty good about their chances.

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ALL-REGION GIRLS’ WATER POLO

First team

Name: Joanna Antonsen

School: Agoura

Yr.: Sophomore

The Marmonte League’s most valuable player is an all-around talent who scored 43 goals and had 44 steals and 35 assists.

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Name: Rachel Burkons

School: Harvard-Westlake

Yr.: Junior

The Wolverines’ second-leading scorer, who averaged 3.0 goals a game, was an excellent complement to high-scoring teammate Jeanine Jackson.

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Name: Erin Enriquez

School: Rio Mesa

Yr.: Junior

The Frontier League’s most valuable player was a deep-end goalie for the Spartans who set a Southern Section record with 304 saves.

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Name: Katy Fick

School: Newbury Park

Yr.: Junior

Coming from a family of notable athletes, Fick didn’t disappoint. She led the Panthers with 61 goals, 41 steals and 32 assists.

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Name: Misty Harlan

School: Crescenta Valley

Yr.: Senior

Despite chronic tendinitis in her right elbow, Harlan was known as the region’s toughest goalie with 164 saves, helping the Falcons to the Division II quarterfinals.

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Name: Nicole Lipman

School: Ventura

Yr.: Senior

The Cougars’ top defender recorded 181 saves, nine steals and 16 assists for the Cougars, who were ranked among the top five in Division II most of the season.

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Name: Lauren O’Brien

School: Ventura

Yr.: Junior

Playing in the competitive Channel League hardly slowed O’Brien, who had 70 goals, 20 steals and 19 assists for the Cougars.

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Name: Colleen Schiman

School: Agoura

Yr.: Sophomore

A pure two-meter player, Schiman teamed with Antonsen and scored 51 goals and handed out 39 assists for the Marmonte League champions.

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Name: Nina Simon

School: Harvard-Westlake

Yr.: Senior

Defensive specialist and three-year starter was the key defender in the Wolverines’ 22-2 campaign.

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Name: Poloma Slezak

School: Louisville

Yr.: Sophomore

Versatile player who led the Royals with 70 goals, 94 steals and 41 assists.

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Coach of the Year

Jason Rosenthal, Agoura

The Chargers have only improved since Rosenthal started the program three years ago. Agoura has gone from 5-14 in 1996-97 to 21-6, Marmonte League champions and Southern Section quarterfinalists two years later.

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Second Team

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Name School Yr. Erika Clark Agoura Sophomore Coral Cozad La Canada Junior Kate Freudenberg Crescenta Valley Senior Kiley Grombacher Louisville Senior Carly Huffman Royal Sophomore Cami Kliner Harvard-Westlake Junior Diana Kuhl Rio Mesa Senior De De Perram Agoura Sophomore Mindy Whelen Ventura Senior Courtney Yoder Oxnard Junior

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