The outdoor pool at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach offers gorgeous views of the sunset, but it has been somewhat of a house of horrors recently for Orange County water polo teams.
Dana Hills’ girls team refused to be another victim Thursday night.
Sophomore attacker Alex Peros scored both of her goals in overtime, and Maia Borisoff delivered a stellar defensive game guarding center to lift Dana Hills past host Long Beach Wilson, 9-6, in a CIF-SS Division 2 first-round playoff match.
High-scoring junior attacker Sydney Baba added three goals, and goalie Genevieve Dahms made 12 saves to help Dana Hills, the third-place team from the South Coast League, reach Saturday’s quarterfinals. The Dolphins (15-15) will be the home team against top-seeded Murrieta Valley at a site to be announced.
In a boys playoff match at Belmont Plaza in the fall, Newport Harbor lost in the first round to Wilson. Mater Dei’s boys suffered a rare loss in 2014 at the pool.
The Wilson faithful was vocal Thursday, especially in the fourth period and overtime.
“I’m so proud of my team. I’m so proud of them for beating Wilson in their own pool and in big water,” said Borisoff, who racked up five steals, three goals and drew three exclusions and a penalty.
After regulation ended tied, 6-6, Dana Hills struck about 40 seconds into the first three-minute overtime. Peros scored on a cross-cage perimeter shot on a kickout pass from Baba at center.
About a minute later, Cate Hill scored on a counterattack with a spectacular redirect shot on a long pass from Ally Meredith. Peros added a goal in the final seconds of the second overtime after Wilson pulled its goalie.
“We’re not a two-show pony,” Dana Hills coach Carrie Pierce said, referring to Borisoff and Baba. “We definitely have more people that we’ve been trying to get to step up … and they chose today.”
In Division 2:
El Toro 24, Murrieta Mesa 2: Jessica Rodriguez and Maddy Damato each scored four goals to lead the host Chargers, who play host to Agoura on Saturday.
San Clemente 19, Newbury Park 5: Attacker Alaina Cousineau scored four goals to lead the host Tritons, who play host to Schurr on Saturday.
In Division 6:
Tustin 9, Mayfield 8: Dana Twisk scored five goals and Hannah Binder had four to lead the Tillers (16-8) past the fifth seed in a first round game at Pasadena City College. Goalie Kalypso Fish helped seal the victory by blocking three consecutive rebound shots after Mayfield cut the Tillers’ lead to 9-8 with 1:42 left in the fourth. Tustin plays host to Cabrillo of Lompoc on Saturday.
Cypress 12, Hemet 6: Sarah Smith overcame two fouls to net six goals, and Lindsey Mizrahi added four to lead the host Centurions (18-9) in the first round. Cypress plays at Westridge on Saturday.
Ocean View 16, Valencia 2: Center Shannon Graham scored eight goals and Ieva Vaiciunas made 10 saves to pace the host and No. 2 seeded Seahawks, who play host to Temescal Canyon on Saturday.
Segerstrom 6, Beaumont 3: Sophomore goalie Jacqueline Lopez made 13 saves to help lift the visiting Jaguars, who play host to No. 1 seed Santa Monica on Saturday.
In Division 7:
Garden Grove 14, Alta Loma 4: Malerie Pattugalan scored four goals to lead the visiting Argonauts in the second round. Garden Grove plays host to No. 2 seed Foothill Tech on Saturday.
Santa Ana Valley 9, Carpinteria 6: The host Falcons won to reach Saturday’s quarterfinals against top-seeded and visiting Hillcrest.
In Division 4:
St. Joseph of Lakewood 12, Trabuco Hills 11: Marie Hillman scored the winner with 1:17 left to lift the visiting Jesters in the first round. St. Joseph led, 6-3, in the second period before the Mustangs tied the score, 6-6, early in the third. St. Joseph led, 11-8, with 4:25 left in the fourth but Trabuco Hills scored three consecutive goals to tie the score, 11-11, with 1:32 remaining. Christina Doherty netted the Mustangs’ last two goals and finished with four. Emma Noble paced the Jesters with five goals.
Mission Viejo 16, Camarillo 3: The Diablos led, 11-0, at halftime at El Toro and cruised into Saturday’s quarterfinals against Bonita. Mission Viejo will play host to Bonita at El Toro at 10:30 a.m.
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
