NEWPORT BEACH – Water polo goalies need to be like cornerbacks in football when it comes to their memories. Both are at their best when they refocus after the opposition makes a big play.
Corona del Mar goalie Nigel Bress did just that Friday as his recovery sparked the No. 5 Sea Kings to a season-opening, 10-9 victory against No. 4 Foothill.
Bress made 10 of his 15 saves in the second half after the Knights’ Tyler Pilon ended the first half with a spectacular, buzzer-beating goal from mid-pool to give visiting Foothill (2-2) a 5-4 lead.
The senior made seven saves in the third period and three more blocks in the final 1:50 of the fourth to preserve a rally by the Sea Kings.
Bress’ final stop came with about five seconds left as Foothill lofted the ball toward the goal on a potential score-tying power play. Bress made the grab, Corona del Mar called a timeout and the Sea Kings ran out the clock.
Foothill led, 7-5, early in the third but Corona del Mar went on a 4-0 run to take a 9-7 lead on a center-strike by Brendan Hack with 5:17 left in the fourth. Patrick Ong scored the eventual winner on a counterattack goal with 2:54 left.
Bobby Lee scored four goals to pace Foothill.
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
