Foothill Plays Up to Its Station

Foothill, the top-ranked girls’ water polo team in Orange County, continued to impress as it soundly defeated second-ranked Newport Harbor, 7-3, in a nonleague game Friday at Newport Harbor High.

Foothill (18-1), the defending Southern Section Division I champion, shut out Newport Harbor (17-5) for the first three quarters on the way to its 11th consecutive victory and 25th win in its last 26 games, dating back to last season.

Sophomore Brittany Hayes scored three goals to lead Foothill’s offense, but sophomore goalie Emily Feher’s 11 saves proved to be the difference for the Knights.

“That was our best game defensively we’ve had all year,” Foothill co-Coach Dave Mikesell said. “That was the best game, by far, that Emily Feher has had for us.”

Feher made three saves in the final 3 minutes 15 seconds of the third quarter, preserving a 3-0 lead and appearing to frustrate the Sailor shooters. Newport Harbor failed to convert on three six-on-five opportunities in the final 1:45 of the third quarter, and went 0 for 8 in the game.

Newport Harbor’s leading scorers, Katherine Belden and Jenna Booth, each got good mid-range shots on those third-quarter man-advantage situations, but both found the crossbar. Feher also made a great save on Erin Ball’s shot from the hole in the final minute of the quarter.

“If their goalie plays like that, I don’t know if anyone can beat them in the playoffs,” said Brian Kreutzkamp, Newport Harbor’s assistant coach. Kreutzkamp filled in for Coach Bill Barnett, who was in Montana visiting his daughter.

Newport Harbor played Foothill nearly even for most of the game, but the Knights took control with a three-goal burst in a 1:37 span in the second quarter.

Sophomore Gabbie Domanic’s goal off a backhander broke a scoreless tie 2:03 into the second quarter, then Breana Allison scored on a skip shot from six meters with 3:34 left in the quarter.

On Newport Harbor’s next possession, Hayes made a steal and drew a four-meter penalty shot on the ensuing breakaway. Hayes scored on the four-meter shot and Foothill had a 3-0 lead.

Annie Wight broke the drought for Newport Harbor 45 seconds into the fourth quarter, scoring from close range off an assist from Erin Kelly Bates to make it 3-1. But a minute later, Hayes answered with the first of her two fourth-quarter goals.

Belden and Booth also scored fourth-quarter goals for the Sailors, but Foothill’s Crystal Carroll and Mary Redaelli scored as the Sailors never got closer than two.

Newport Harbor handed Foothill its only loss, 5-3 on Dec. 29 at the Newport Harbor-Corona del Mar tournament. Domanic and Hayes missed that meeting because they were playing for the U.S. youth team in a tournament in Montreal.

In other nonleague games:

Capistrano Valley 8, Carlsbad 6--Sophomore Aimee Stachowski scored three goals and Meridith McColl, who had 11 saves for Capistrano Valley, stopped a four-meter penalty shot in the fourth quarter with the score tied, 6-6. Gigi Seuc scored on the counterattack for the Cougars (15-4-1), ranked third in the county. Carlsbad is 13-5-1.

No. 8 Marina 8, No. 7 Irvine 5--Cara Chlebicki scored four goals for visiting Marina (10-8-1). Mary Beth Cox scored two goals for Irvine (9-9).

No. 10 Los Alamitos 8, Rosary 2--Drue Wawrzynski had four goals for host Los Alamitos. Sophomore goalie Sarah Kilgore had 11 saves for Rosary.

In the Katella tournament:

Chino 11, Katella 8--Krista Wirthgen and Christina Sanchez had four goals each for host Katella (9-14).