Capistrano Valley Plays Smart, Wins

Capistrano Valley turned what could have been a disaster into a confidence builder by holding off Newport Harbor, 7-6, in the first round of the Southern Section Division I girls’ water polo playoffs Saturday at Saddleback College.

Junior Amber Stachowski scored two of her four goals in the first quarter to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead. But she also picked up her second major foul only 1 1/2 minutes into the second quarter, leaving her one short of disqualification.

But Newport Harbor, the defending Division I champion, couldn’t capitalize, going scoreless on six man-advantage opportunities.

And when Capistrano Valley freshman goalie Meridith McColl stopped a lob shot by Kyndra Cox with 20 seconds remaining, the Cougars’ quarterfinal berth was secure.

Capistrano Valley (18-7), the South Coast League runner-up that finished the regular season ranked sixth in the county, advanced to play top-seeded Esperanza Tuesday. Newport Harbor, ranked eighth in the county, ended 19-8.

“We played well,” Capistrano Valley Coach Jason Lynch said. “When Amber got her second ejection, I wasn’t worried. She’s smart enough to know how to play under control. And I thought Aimee Stachowski came up huge and Xina Gleason played incredible.”

Aimee Stachowski, a freshman, took her sister’s position at two-meter defense and made some key plays in the fourth quarter. She drew a four-meter penalty shot that her sister converted, then she scored her only goal from the hole for a 5-3 lead with 5 minutes 12 seconds remaining.

Gleason gave the Cougars an offensive spark, scoring two goals, including one on a skip shot to give the Cougars a 3-0 lead with 6:08 remaining in the third quarter. But Capistrano Valley couldn’t pull away.

Three times in the final five minutes, Newport Harbor pulled to within one goal, but the Sailors never scored an equalizer. Cox scored two of her three goals in the fourth quarter, but McColl had three of her 12 saves in the quarter to help preserve Capistrano Valley’s lead.

“We’re excited,” Amber Stachowski said. “We want to prove we’re a good team and go far in the playoffs.”