Knights Don’t Rebuild, They Reload

If there are any chinks in the Knights’ armor, they weren’t revealed during Foothill’s first two games last week.

The defending Southern Section Division I champions rumbled past Long Beach Wilson and Irvine in convincing fashion, outscoring them, 22-9. With eight key returners, the Knights have had a smooth transition after the departure of graduated starters Jackie Pirro and Daylene Coberly.

“Maybe other coaches had questions about us,” said co-coach Dan Klatt, whose team is ranked No. 1 in Orange County. “It was never a concern for us. We knew we had a lot of great players.”

Returning All-Division I picks Gabbie Domanic, Brittany Hayes and goalie Emily Feher lead the Knights, and Breana Allison, Vickie Brown, Katie Card, Crystal Carroll and Mary Redaelli all played significant minutes last season. So there’s more than just a championship nucleus returning.

But it is not this team’s talent that has Klatt and co-coach David Mikesell impressed. There are also the intangibles.

“The intensity they play with and the love of the game,” Klatt said, “that’s what stands out about this group. You can have lots of talent, but if you don’t love the game, it doesn’t help.

“With this group, they may want to have an extra practice on a Saturday. Or if we call for a workout at 5:30 in the morning, they don’t cry or fret about it.”

WEEKEND UPDATE

Laguna Beach entered last week unranked in the Orange County Coaches’ poll, but the Artists defeated then-seventh-ranked El Toro and ninth-ranked Villa Park before losing to Carlsbad in the final of the Villa Park tournament.

Teresa Codini scored 15 goals in the tournament, including the game-winner in a 9-8 overtime victory over Villa Park in the semifinals. Codini has combined with her twin sister Tina and senior Laura Case to score 87 of the team’s 106 goals for the Artists (9-2), now ranked eighth in the county.

Edison entered last week at No. 10, but the Chargers moved up one spot after defeating Villa Park, 9-5, in the third-place game to finish 3-1 in the same tournament.

“I thought we were in a good position to win the tournament,” Edison Coach Jans Baltgalvis said, “but we came out flat [Saturday].”

Edison goalie Caitlin Wilkes scored two goals in the tournament, both on length-of-the-pool shots.

DIDN’T WE WIN THAT?

In this space last week, it was reported that La Habra won the Chino Hills Ayala tournament. That got Tustin Coach Dean Crow a little fired up, considering he was holding the Ayala tournament trophy in his hands.

Tustin, off to a 9-0 start, won the 32-team portion of the tournament. La Habra won the eight-team bracket.

LOOKING AHEAD

Marina’s tough road doesn’t get any easier this week as the No. 5 Vikings, who lost to fourth-ranked Newport Harbor Saturday, 6-5, face second-ranked Capistrano Valley at 4 today at Saddleback College.

The game features two junior national team players: Marina’s Cara Chlebicki and Capistrano Valley’s Amber Stachowski.

Thursday, Marina plays Bell Gardens at 3:15 at Pasadena College.

Bell Gardens, is the two-time defending section Division III champion. The Lancers entered the season with a 60-game winning streak.

On Friday, Capistrano Valley hosts seventh-ranked Irvine at 4 p.m. at Saddleback College.

If you have an item or idea for the girls’ water polo report, you can fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail us at: mike.itagaki@latimes.com

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GIRLS’ WATER POLO TOP 10

Orange County Coaches’ Poll

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Pos. School (League) Rec 1. Foothill (Century) 2-0 2. Capistrano Valley (South Coast) 2-0 3. Santa Margarita (Serra) 3-0 4. Newport Harbor (Sea View) 1-1 5. Marina (Sunset) 1-1 6. Corona del Mar (Pacific Coast) 3-0 7. Irvine (Sea View) 5-1 8. Laguna Beach (Pacific Coast) 9-2 9. Edison (Sunset) 4-1 10. Esperanza (Sunset) 5-2

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