The JSerra girls water polo team used a break between matches at last season’s Falcon Tournament to shop for winter formal dresses. It was a memorable excursion on the final day of the competition, but the Lions’ plans will be different today.
“No fooling around,” attacker Krista Krantz said.
JSerra advanced Friday into the championship round-robin by defeating reigning CIF-SS Division 7 champion Segerstrom, 8-4, at Kennedy High.
Krantz netted six goals and senior Olivia Cimo blocked two power-play shots in the field as the Lions joined defending champion Marina and University for the top-three playoff at Santa Ana Valley High.
The Lions (8-3) will attempt to capture their first tournament under fifth-year coach Julie Ertel, a former Olympian in water polo and triathlon.
The Lions’ participation numbers have been low and their victories in the Trinity League few, but Friday’s effort marked progress. They’ll finish in the top-three in a tournament for the first time under Ertel.
“(We’re) ecstatic,” Krantz said. “We worked really hard for this and I’m so glad that all our work is paying off. … I’m super-excited for what is going to happen with our team.”
Krantz, a sophomore who also plays for the SET club, scored a pair of first-period counterattack goals as the Lions took a 2-0 lead.
JSerra’s lead grew to 6-1 early in the second half, but Segerstom trimmed the lead to 6-4 before the close of the third. Justine Mills scored the final two goals for the Jaguars (5-1).
Cimo’s second field block against the power play early in the fourth proved critical. Krantz later scored on a third counterattack for a 7-4 lead, and freshman Ashley Kempf added a strike from center after a ball-side drive.
Segerstrom finished 1 for 7 on the power play, and JSerra was 2 for 4.
Sophomore Mariah Meyer also scored from center for JSerra and added five steals. Goalie Amber Jones made five steals.
“There’s not a huge, talented player that we need to go to all the time,” Ertel said. “They just really cover each other’s backs.”
Segerstrom used a goal by Aurora Oceguera to edge Cypress, 7-6, in triple sudden-death earlier Friday.
In nonleague games:
Canyon 14, Troy 13 (OT): Julia Van Marter scored seven goals, including the winner in sudden-death overtime, and Sierra Stoddard added five goals to lead the Comanches (11-1). Marissa Vaccher netted seven goals for Troy.
No. 9 Santa Margarita 25, Capistrano Valley 10: Freshman Bella Baia scored 10 goals for the second time this season and added four assists to lead the visiting Eagles (7-4), who played without goalie Nikki Doumas (sick).
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
