La Habra’s Victory in Pool Is a Steele

Ryan Steele’s goal in the last two minutes of regulation proved to be the winner for La Habra, which defeated Freeway League rival Buena Park, 11-10, in boys’ water polo Wednesday at Buena Park.

Steele scored the winner with 1 minute 58 seconds left to give the Highlanders an 11-9 lead. Buena Park’s Steve Lopez, who had five goals in the game, brought the Coyotes within one goal with 18 seconds left.

Steele had three goals, as did teammate Kevin Caine. Robert Hergenrother had 14 saves for La Habra (11-6, 1-0).

Although it was the first game of league play, La Habra may have won the game that is the key to the Freeway League title.

“We should win the remaining four league games left,” La Habra Coach Eugene Char said. “But I’m not going to celebrate just yet.”

In Century League boys’ water polo:

No. 2 Villa Park 20, El Modena 4--Charlie Fisher had five goals and Cody Greene, T.J. Matijevich and Mark Liao had three each for host Villa Park (13-2, 1-0), which led, 11-2, after one quarter.

No. 4 Foothill 20, Canyon 10--Foothill broke open a close game with six second-quarter goals. Wes Fox scored six and Brian Alexander added five goals for the Knights (9-5, 1-0). Ian Robertson made 10 saves for Canyon (7-4, 0-1).

In the Pacific Coast League:

No. 5 Corona del Mar 9, No. 8 Laguna Beach 5--Trailing, 3-2, after one quarter, visiting Corona Del Mar (5-2, 1-0), scored five unanswered goals to put the game away.

Artie Dorr had four goals and Chase Emery and Michael March had two each for the Sea Kings.

Trevor Lyle had three goals and Patrick Sandys had two for Laguna Beach (9-5, 0-1).

In the Sunset League:

Edison 10, No. 9 Esperanza 5--Matt Budnick and Cody Tague had three goals each for host Edison (10-5, 1-0), which outscored Esperanza, 6-1, in the second half.

In nonleague water polo:

No. 7 Servite 14, Whittier 10--Vincent Bevins scored nine goals and Mike Rustemeyer had four steals, four assists and two goals for the host Friars (8-2). Whittier is 6-5.

In nonleague girls’ golf:

No. 2 Villa Park 131, St. Margaret’s 144--Medalist Priscilla Park made three birdies in her round of one-over 36 for the Spartans (9-0) at Marbella. Junior Taylor McClurg shot a team-low 41 for St. Margaret’s (8-3).

Esperanza 257, Canyon 306--Sophomore Kayley Parrett earned medalist honors with a three-over-par 75 for the Aztecs (6-1) at Anaheim Hills and Coyote Hills. Canyon is 3-6.

Marina 142, Ocean View 143--Nicole Peralta of Ocean View was the medalist with a six-over 42 at Meadowlark, but Marina pulled out the victory behind the play of Lisa Sweller (43) and Jane Chin (46).

Woodbridge 134, El Toro 156--Junior Emily Lander won medalist honors with a 42 at par-36 Strawberry Farms for the Warriors (10-1).

In South Coast League tennis:

No. 2 Dana Hills 18, Trabuco Hills 0--Sophomores Kristin Bronowicki, Kristen Wilson and Adriana Maracini swept their singles sets, losing just two games among them, for host Dana Hills (6-0, 2-0).

In nonleague girls’ tennis:

No. 4 Woodbridge 14, No. 10 Sunny Hills 4--Susanna Lingman, Woodbridge’s No. 1 singles player, defeated Sunny Hills’ top player, Joanna Kao, 6-2, on her way to a 6-2, 6-0, 6-0 sweep for Woodbridge (7-3).

No. 5 Los Alamitos 12, Rosary 6--Michelle Oblonsky and Megan King swept, 7-5, 6-0, 6-0, at No. 1 doubles for host Los Alamitos (6-1), which won seven of nine doubles sets.

In Sea View League girls’ volleyball:

No. 5 Newport Harbor 3, Laguna Hills 0--Kristin McClune had 17 kills and Liz Lord had 11 for host Newport Harbor (2-4, 1-1) in their 15-5, 15-6, 15-3 victory.