Foothill Hits New Level With Tournament Win

The overwhelming opinion from those who watched Santa Ana Foothill High win the Newport Beach Newport Harbor/Corona del Mar girls’ water polo tournament Saturday was the Knights were competing at another level.

That’s because two of Foothill’s best players, Emily Feher and Gabbie Domanic, actually do. Feher and Domanic are members of the U.S. junior national team, which earlier this month won the world championships.

In Saturday’s tournament final against Poway, Feher and Domanic, both juniors, led the Knights to a 10-2 victory at Newport Harbor High. It was the 31st consecutive victory for the Knights, the top-ranked team by The Times.

Feher, who earned most valuable goalkeeper at the world championships, had a shutout after three quarters before exiting with the Knights leading, 9-0. Feher made five saves and stopped a four-meter penalty throw late in the first quarter with a 1-0 lead.

Domanic carried the offensive load, scoring three of her team-high four goals in the third quarter before exiting early.

“Our two-meter play has been very good,” said Foothill Coach Dave Mikesell. “We seem to be firing on all pistons.”

Even more impressive was the Knights (8-0) were missing another top player, Brittany Hayes, who was playing in a tournament with the U.S. youth national team.

“They’re tough, they’re huge and they’re strong,” Poway Coach Donovan Russell said. “We played all right, but they’re at another level.”

Poway, San Diego Section Division I runner-up last season, reached the final by defeating Santa Margarita, 7-2. Santa Margarita, ranked second, had four starters with the U.S. youth team.