McMunn’s Overtime Goal Puts El Toro in Title Game

One little opening and one big moment were all El Toro senior Trevor McMunn needed.

After 2 minutes 53 seconds of sudden-death overtime, McMunn cocked his arm and, without hesitating, side-armed the ball into the goal, giving the Chargers a 9-8 victory over Newport Harbor in the Southern Section Division I boys’ water polo semifinals Saturday at Corona del Mar.

“I knew [the defender] would lunge on my right side,” McMunn said. “So when I saw I had the shot, I took it and I knew it was good.”

After the game, teammates and spectators congratulated McMunn as he dressed for the bus ride home. He was trembling as he tried to pull his shirt over his head.

“I’m not cold,” McMunn said. “I’m just so excited. To be able to advance to the finals. And to have the winning score from me.

“It’s something every high school water polo player dreams about.”

McMunn finished with two goals and four steals.

Third-seeded El Toro (26-4) will play top-seeded Long Beach Wilson, a 7-2 winner over North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake, for the title at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach.

El Toro last made the finals in 1993, and for Coach Don Stoll, Saturday’s victory was extremely satisfying.

“It’s a shame that one team has to win in a game like this,” Stoll said. “Trevor had a great game at offense and defense. I’m just so happy for this team.”

“This is one of the better high school games you’ll see,” Newport Harbor Coach Brian Kreutzkamp said. “We had some missed shots, but they did too. I told my players I don’t want to see any tears and I want you to hold your head up, because you played the best you could. And this is as close to a tie game as you’ll get.”

Junior Brett McCleave, who played most of the game at two meters, scored three goals to lead the Chargers. Andy Terpstra, Tim Craycraft, Brad Burnett and Jimmy Reideler scored goals for El Toro.

Newport Harbor’s Brendon Hansen, who had two goals, put the game into overtime when he scored off an assist by Peter Belden with 47 seconds left in regulation.

Ryan Cook scored three goals for Newport Harbor and Belden had two.