Foothill Makes Itself Heard With Century Title

Who says league titles don’t mean much?

Foothill, ranked fifth in the county, celebrated loud and hard after toppling three-time defending Century League girls’ water polo champion Villa Park, 8-6, in overtime Friday at Villa Park High.

Foothill freshman Brittany Hayes scored three goals, the defense held seventh-ranked Villa Park scoreless over the final 17 minutes and the coaches began the celebration as co-Coach Dan Klatt leaped into the pool as the final buzzer sounded.

“I don’t know how to describe it,” said Foothill senior co-captain Jacqueline Pirro, who had one goal. “This is wonderful.”

She didn’t feel that way late in the game.

Pirro, the team’s leading scorer last season, had a chance to break the 6-6 tie at the end of regulation, but her shot from six meters bounced off the left goal post with eight seconds remaining.

And 31 seconds into overtime, Pirro, the team’s top two-meter defender, picked up her third major foul, earning her a spot on the sidelines for the rest of the game.

“I was upset,” Pirro said. “But I have so much confidence in my teammates. This team is so deep, I knew we could do anything without one player.”

Overtime goals by Hayes and senior co-captain Daylene Coberly, who had two goals, provided the winning margin for Foothill (18-7, 5-0 in league), which held Villa Park (19-7, 4-1) scoreless on three six-on-five opportunities in overtime.

“That was the best defense we’ve played this season,” Foothill co-Coach Dave Mikesell said.

Villa Park scored only two goals in the final three quarters and overtime, but still took a 6-4 lead three minutes into the third quarter on Cindy Henn’s second goal off an assist from UCLA-bound senior Kristyn Pulver, who scored one goal.

But third-quarter goals by Coberly and Hayes pulled Foothill even, 6-6, and the Spartans never scored again. Pulver took only one shot after halftime and that was snuffed out by freshman goalie Emily Feher, who had eight saves.

Freshman goalie Cara Colton had 14 saves for Villa Park.