Sea Kings Extend Water Polo Streak

Top-ranked Corona del Mar continued its recent dominance with an 11-4 victory over fourth-ranked Foothill in a nonleague boys’ water polo game Friday at Corona del Mar High.

Since Coach John Vargas’ return from the Sydney Olympics, where he coached the U.S. men’s team, the Sea Kings (11-2) have won eight in a row, including victories over four of the county’s top 10 teams.

“I think we’re getting better,” Vargas said. “But I haven’t been back long enough to really know. I’m just trying to read where we’re at right now.”

Foothill (13-8) is one of two teams to beat Corona del Mar this season; the Knights won a quarterfinal of the South Coast tournament, 9-8 in sudden-death overtime, before Vargas’ return.

It began as another close game Friday, when the first quarter ended tied, 1-1. However, Foothill opened the second quarter with three consecutive turnovers and the Sea Kings took advantage, eventually scoring five unanswered goals for a 6-1 halftime lead.

“Neither team was doing much offensively in the first quarter,” Foothill Coach Jim Brumm said. “Then we had those three drops and our guys started to force up shots. But that’s a credit to the Corona del Mar defense.”

Foothill took only eight shots in the first half--five were saved by goalkeeper Sherwin Kim--but had 15 in the second half. Beau Stockstill, Corona del Mar’s second-half goalkeeper, had nine saves.

Vargas continued to rotate his two-meter position too, giving Foothill’s defense fits. The Knights four ejections while trying to stop Artie Dorr, Mike March and Garrett Bowlus. Corona del Mar was able to convert only two of the subsequent penalty shots--both by March, who led his team with four goals.

Foothill goalkeeper Ian Elliott, who finished with 11 saves, stopped penalty shots by Bowlus and Dorr.

In other nonleague games:

No. 3 Newport Harbor 16, Laguna Beach 8--Peter Belden scored five goals and Ryan Cook and Joey Snelgrove each scored four for the visiting Sailors (11-4), who broke open a close game with 10 third-quarter goals.

No. 6 Los Alamitos 17, Capistrano Valley 6--Erik Geoffroy scored seven goals, Joe Gentner four and Tyler Drake three for the host Griffins (11-11).

University 14, Tustin 6--Teddy Peck scored eight goals, giving him 77 this season, for visiting University (12-6).

In South Coast League girls’ volleyball:

No. 1 San Clemente 3, Trabuco Hills 0--Megan Blackshire had 13 kills and Christina Vick and Heather Morgan each had 11 for host San Clemente (10-1, 4-0), which won, 15-1, 15-10, 15-2.

Capistrano Valley 3, Dana Hills 0--Ashley Thometz had 15 kills for host Capistrano Valley (7-4, 3-1) in a 15-6, 15-12, 15-11 victory.