Newport Tops No. 1 Foothill, Rolls Into Tournament Final

Newport Harbor, the third-ranked girls’ water polo team in Orange County, defeated top-ranked Foothill and sixth-ranked Santa Margarita during the second round of pool play in the Newport Harbor-Corona del Mar tournament Friday at Newport Harbor.

Newport Harbor (8-1) advanced to play Santa Barbara in the championship game today at noon at Newport Harbor. Santa Barbara won its pool with Capistrano Valley and Carlsbad.

Newport Harbor’s Annie Wight scored two fourth-quarter goals in a 35-second span to help the Sailors defeat Foothill, 5-3. Katie Card scored two goals for Foothill (7-1), which was playing without its top two scorers, Gabbie Domanic and Brittany Hayes, who are with the U.S. youth team in Montreal for the NorAm tournament.

Santa Margarita also played without two youth team members, Kristina Kunkel and Erika Figge. Newport Harbor’s Katherine Belden and Paige Lansing each scored two goals in a 5-1 win over the Eagles.

Foothill’s Crystal Carroll scored twice in a 4-1 victory over Santa Margarita.

In consolation games, seventh-ranked Marina defeated No. 4 Corona del Mar, 4-2, and No. 8 Laguna Beach, 10-6. Marina’s Cara Chlebicki scored 10 of her team’s 14 goals Friday.

In a preview of their Pacific Coast League showdown Jan. 10, Laguna Beach’s Teresa Codini scored two goals to help the Artists defeat Corona del Mar, 4-2.