IRVINE – Foothill’s girls water polo team re-introduced itself Wednesday night as a CIF-SS Division 1 finalist.
Esteemed coach Bill Barnett said goodbye after 49 years at his beloved Newport Harbor.
Long-standing rivals Foothill and Newport Harbor headed in different directions after the Knights rallied from an early two-goal deficit to defeat the Sailors, 5-3, in the Division 1 semifinals at the Woollett Aquatics Center.
Second-seeded Foothill (26-4) trailed, 2-0, after the first period but netted four consecutive goals, including two by freshmen Noelle Wijnbelt and Val Ayala, to seize control.
Goalie Kenzie Snyder helped seal the victory with a save against a shot from center with about 35 seconds left, and Julia Sellers added a steal with 17 seconds left as third-seeded Newport Harbor (23-7) again attacked center.
Foothill endured a sudden coaching change last season but emerged Wednesday under coaches Jim Brumm and Greg Enloe as a Division 1 finalist for the first time since 2011.
The Knights will play defending champion and top-seeded Laguna Beach (30-0) for the fifth time this season Saturday. The Breakers are 4-0 against Foothill.
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Related: Watch a replay of the match.
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“We’ve really come together as a team,” said Sellers, who scored twice. “Even with all our losses against Laguna, it’s been about Feb. 28 for us.
“If they can beat us nine times out of 10, we’re making that one time on Feb. 28.”
Foothill tied the score, 2-2, on a power-play strike coming out of a timeout late in the second period by reserve Wijnbelt off a cross-pass from Emily Konishi. Ayala netted the go-ahead goal with a strike from 6 meters with 1:02 left in the half. Ayala beat Newport Harbor’s drop defense on center, a strategy the Sailors used heavily in the match.
Konishi added a counterattack strike late in the third on a cross-pool pass from Brooke Maxson. Newport Harbor’s Chanel Schilling cut Foothill’s lead to 4-3 with a slick timeout strike off a pass by Ellie Reid with 2:56 left in the fourth, but Sellers added a counterattack goal with 1:47 remaining.
“It’s not fun to lose going out, but I’m very pleased with the girls, the way they played and (assistant Brian) Melstrom did a great job with them,” said Barnett, whose squad was paced by 16 saves from Carlee Kapana. “I’m tired. It’s good to be over with (coaching).”
Barnett received a standing ovation from the crowd late in the game after a brief tribute by announcer Keith Yonkers. The 72-year-old, who led Newport Harbor to a combined 15 CIF titles, attended the match with the aid of a walker after having hip surgery on Thursday. He left the hospital Monday and attended Tuesday’s practice.
Foothill’s players paid their respect afterward by walking to the Newport Harbor bench to shake the hand of Barnett, who remained seated. Barnett later spent time with his players and each gave him a hug.
“That was neat,” he said. “Something to remember forever.”
Newport Harbor opened a 2-0 lead in the first on perimeter strikes by left-handers Reid and Isabel Leveque. But Foothill allowed only one more goal in beating the Sailors for the fourth consecutive time. Newport Harbor struggled on the power-play, going 0 for 5. Foothill went 1 for 5.
In the other semifinal, Aria Fischer scored five goals, Makenzie Fischer netted three and Mia Salvini and Bella Baldridge each had four assists to lead the Breakers past Corona del Mar, 12-5.
Laguna Beach coach Ethan Damato said it’s fitting the Breakers will meet Foothill in the final.
“I think we’ve been the two most consistent teams, so I’m not surprised,” he said. “I know it’s going to be a battle Saturday. I think we have a group of girls who will be ready for a battle.”
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com