Foothill Stops Santa Margarita in Final

The cream usually rises to the top this time of year in girls’ water polo, and Santa Ana Foothill has occupied that lofty position more than any other Southland team this decade.

The Knights, winners of four of the last five Southern Section Division I titles, are making their climb again. They shut down Santa Margarita and Newport Harbor on Saturday to win the Southern California Championships at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatic Center in Irvine.

Foothill, which came into the tournament ranked No. 3 in Division I, knocked off No. 1-ranked Santa Margarita, 2-0, in the championship game. It was the Knights’ first shutout since they defeated Santa Margarita in the Division I final three years ago.

Foothill (22-3) defeated second-ranked Newport Harbor, 8-4, in the semifinals. The Sailors, who did not record a save against the Knights, went on to beat Santa Barbara, 14-11, for third place.

Newport Harbor (21-3) is still expected to be seeded No. 1 in the Division I playoffs because it defeated Foothill in a Sea View League game two weeks ago and probably will enter the playoffs, which begin Feb. 15, as the league’s champion.

Santa Margarita defeated Newport Harbor in a nonleague game on Jan. 28 to become the top-ranked team in Division I and the top-seeded team for the tournament. But Saturday’s loss will probably cost the Eagles (20-6) one of the top two seeded positions in the playoffs.

“We needed to come out, after Santa Margarita beat [Newport Harbor] last week, and win this thing to at least take care of ourselves,” Foothill Coach Dave Mikesell said.

Kelsey Holshouser scored from the perimeter to give Foothill a 1-0 lead with 2 minutes 51 seconds left in the first quarter. Grace Reynolds scored Foothill’s second goal on a counterattack with 5:24 left in the game. Amber Oland had 11 saves for Foothill.

Stephanie Peckham had eight saves for the Eagles, whose last shutout loss was 8-0 to Foothill in that 2002 Division I final.

“At least they only scored two this time, not eight,” said Mary Cousineau, the only current Eagle also on the 2002 team.