Corona del Mar Advances to Division II Title Game

Alex Niehenke scored with 41 seconds left to give Corona del Mar a 4-3 victory over Los Alamitos in the semifinals of the Southern Section Division II boys’ water polo playoffs Saturday at Newport Harbor.

Niehenke, a 6-foot-8 senior who also scored the Sea Kings’ first goal in the first quarter, said he was surprised when his shot from about six meters got past Los Alamitos goalie B.J. Ploessel.

“It wasn’t actually the plan we had when we set up the play,” Niehenke said. “I got the pass, and sort of juggled it, then took the shot.”

Garrett Bowlus, with an assist by Niehenke, tied the score for Corona del Mar early in the fourth quarter.

The last time Corona del Mar advanced to the Southern Section final was in 1994 when they were in Division I. The Sea Kings will play Servite at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach.

Los Alamitos scored back-to-back goals by Danny Coultrup and Trevor Wawrzynski after Niehenke’s first goal to take a 2-1 lead at the end of the first quarter.

A four-meter penalty shot by Garrett Gentry tied the score for Corona del Mar with 1 minute 53 seconds left in the second quarter. But Los Alamitos took the lead again when Coultrup took a pass from Wawrzynski to score with 15 seconds left.

Corona del Mar was able to shut down Los Alamitos in the second half, giving up just eight shots in the last two quarters. Brad Netherton had nine saves for the Sea Kings (16-10). Los Alamitos finishes 21-7.