There’s a new coach and new players in the lineup but not everything has changed for the Los Alamitos girls water polo team.
The Griffins still pride themselves on outworking opponents and receiving contributions from several players.
And they still know what it takes to capture the Villa Park Classic.
Los Alamitos showed all that Saturday. Sarah Siepker led six players in scoring with four goals and goalie Kennedy Joseph made eight saves as the No. 6 Griffins defeated No. 7 San Clemente, 13-8, in the final at El Toro.
The Griffins improved to 8-0 under first-year coach Brent Danna, who replaced longtime coach Dave Carlson. They also got three goals from emerging center Abbey Blake and two power-play strikes from new starter Jenny Lee in claiming the 32-team tournament title for the first time since 2011.
Siepker said the Griffins – who never trailed – are motivated to carry on the “legacy” established by Carlson and numerous standout players.
“We’re proud of that,” the Cal-bound senior said of the tradition. “There was no option of losing (Saturday). … We work so hard in practice and we bust our butts, this is just the icing on the cake: winning the tournament.”
Los Alamitos played at its usual high-energy pace, scoring twice on counterattacks and once on a drive by Karley Kraft. They also swam eight laps after the game because San Clemente (5-1) netted eight goals.
The Griffins converted 5 of 10 chances on the power-play, shot well from the perimeter and held high-scoring center Amber McCutcheon to two goals before she fouled out with 4:46 left in the third.
Los Alamitos’ Lauren Dvonch chipped in four assists and threw in a goal from almost half-court for a 10-4 lead with 1:33 left in the third.
Joseph blocked a penalty shot in the second.
“Best game we played in the tournament,” Danna said of the final. “(It) was the most complete game we played, against a high-quality opponent.”
Alaina Cousineau and Cassidy Smithson each scored twice for San Clemente, which went 4 for 9 on the power-play.
In the fifth-place game:
No. 10 Mater Dei 7, Santiago of Corona 3: Olivia Blair made 13 saves and seven players scored one goal apiece to lead the Monarchs (6-1) at El Toro.
In the Ayala tournament:
No. 5 Orange Lutheran 22, Norco 3: Bailey Dillard, Mollie Simmons and Emma Skelly each scored five goals to lead the Lancers (7-0) to the title.
In nonleague:
No. 4 Corona del Mar 8, No. 8 Santa Margarita 4: Heidi Ritner made 13 saves and Shannon Frome blocked a 6-on-4 power-play shot in the field to lead the visiting Sea Kings (2-0).
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
