Edison girls’ water polo battles but falls to top-seeded Yucaipa in Division 2 title match

The match was low-scoring, which could be expected with two of the best goalies in the CIF Southern Section on center stage.

Edison High senior Madie Ambrose matched Yucaipa junior Christine Carpenter for much of the Division 2 title match Saturday at Irvine’s Woollett Aquatics Center.

Carpenter finished with 16 saves, and Ambrose had 15, including one on a penalty shot.

But it was top-seeded Yucaipa which scored three straight goals in the fourth quarter, earning a 5-3 victory in a duel of two teams making their first appearance in a CIF title match.

Edison (16-11) can take solace in knowing that its season isn’t over, as it will compete next week in the CIF State Southern California Regional Playoffs.

Mark that as another accomplishment in a season that also saw the Chargers win a share of their second league title in program history.

Edison’s Lilyanna Larson, right, competes against Yucaipa’s Samantha Byers, left, during second half in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 girls’ water polo championship match on Saturday at Woollett Aquatics Center in Irvine.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

“I’m personally a little disappointed and bummed that we didn’t win it,” said Ambrose, bound for the University of Michigan, after Edison accepted the runner-up plaque. “We worked hard for this, but I feel like it’s just that pushing point to keep us moving forward. Next we have state championships to keep that motivation going.”

Senior captain Lily Worley, who scored once in the title match and drew a penalty shot, said it was definitely a dream to make it to finals. The scrappy Chargers hung in against Yucaipa, which drew nine exclusions compared to two for Edison.

Edison took a 3-2 lead midway through the fourth quarter when senior Lily Larson put away the penalty shot drawn by Worley, but the advantage lasted just 17 seconds.

Yucaipa junior Isabella Landeros scored from center to tie the score, then senior Shea Tully added a long-range bomb from about nine meters to give the Thunderbirds (23-9) a 4-3 advantage with 2:43 left.

Edison’s Lily Worley (9) shoots against Yucaipa during the first half in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 girls’ water polo championship match on Saturday at Woollett Aquatics Center in Irvine.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

Yucaipa got an insurance goal when Landeros scored a counterattack goal with 1:15 remaining. Ambrose came out to try to get a steal, but Landeros was able to flip it into the empty net.

“I probably shouldn’t have come out on that one,” Ambrose said. “It was more of just trying to go for it. It didn’t end up working out in my favor, which was definitely a bummer, but it worth it because we had been getting countered the whole entire game. Why not challenge them at the end of it?”

Sophomore Jillian Van Gemert added a goal and a field block for the Chargers, who got a steal from senior Bridget Angelovic as well.

Landeros led Yucaipa with three goals, and Tully had two.

Edison coach Nick Graffis said he had a positive message for his players after the final whistle.

“I just reminded them that we love each other,” he said. “Win, lose, or draw. I was proud of them before we stepped foot on the pool deck today, and I’m just as proud afterward. Everything that happened the last four years for some of them, or as long as they’ve been around, that’s the stuff that I’m proud of.”

Edison goalkeeper Madilyn Ambrose (1A) tries to stop the go-ahead goal by Yucaipa’s Shea Tully, not pictured, during the fourth period in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 girls’ water polo championship match on Saturday at Woollett Aquatics Center in Irvine.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

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