The emotions of Los Alamitos’ girls water polo team spanned the extremes Wednesday in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs.
The Griffins are just happy the journey ended with a celebration.
Cal-bound senior Sarah Siepker scored from 6 meters to narrowly beat the final buzzer and lift Los Alamitos past host Dos Pueblos of Goleta, 9-8, in a match the Griffins seemed to firmly have in control until the final period.
Related: Wednesday’s CIF predictions
Los Alamitos (21-8), ranked eighth in Division 1, led No. 7 Dos Pueblos, 8-4, entering the fourth, but Chargers (17-10) tied the score, 8-8, with nine seconds left in regulation.
Los Alamitos coach Brent Danna called a timeout and ran a pick-play that opened Siepker for the winning shot, which ignited celebrations in the pool and on deck.
“It was a whirlwind of emotions in the fourth quarter,” Danna said in a phone interview. “It was a heck of shot (by Siepker).”
Danna used multiple players to set a pick for Siepker, who took a dry-pass from goalie Kennedy Joseph about 6 meters outside the Dos Pueblos goal, pumped twice and shot over two defenders into an upper corner.
Siepker finished with three goals, but the Griffins needed a well-round effort to reach Saturday’s quarterfinal against top-seeded Laguna Beach. Joseph made eight saves, including one against a penalty, while Abbey Blake and Lauren Dvonch each scored twice.
Also in Division 1:
Orange Lutheran 12, Santa Barbara 8: The Lancers (24-3) received the challenge they expected but reached the quarterfinals behind nine assists by Kelsey Tyler and three goals and six steals by Bailey Dillard at Santiago Canyon College.
Orange Lutheran goalie Bailey Meyer blocked a penalty shot with 2.5 seconds left in the first half to preserve a 5-3 lead. In the fourth, Tyler snapped a 3-0 run by the Dons (13-16) with a cross-cage lob shot for an 11-7 lead with 2:58 left.
“This was great for us. The blood is flowing. The competition is back,” Orange Lutheran coach Steve Carrera said. “There were some fundamental things we did wrong on offense and defense that the next round won’t forgive us. They’re going to capitalize and Santa Barbara capitalized, especially in the fourth quarter.
“They gave us a little bit of a scare.”
The Lancers will make their first appearance in the Division 1 quarterfinals Saturday when they take on fourth-seeded Corona del Mar.
“They can play with anybody,” Santa Barbara coach Mark Walsh said of Orange Lutheran. “We knew we were going to have to play close to perfect and we didn’t.”
Orange Lutheran combined its speed advantage and ability to execute designed plays to score shortly off the sprints in the second, third and fourth periods. Mollie Simmons won two of the sprints while Emma Skelly claimed the other.
Dillard’s play was another bright spot, especially on defense. “She played out of her mind,” Carrera said. “Bailey was just all over the place. … We’re tough to beat when she plays that well.”
Orange Lutheran made 1 of 7 shots in the first period but netted four goals in the second and third periods, opening a 9-3 advantage late in the third.
Laguna Beach 24, Villa Park 4: Makenzie Fischer led 12 players in scoring with four goals as the host Breakers (28-0) tied Foothill’s county record for most consecutive victories with 49.
Newport Harbor 14, Beckman 2: Chanel Schilling netted four goals for the host Sailors (22-6), who will play San Marcos in the quarterfinals without Coach Bill Barnett. The retiring coach will undergo surgery today on his hip for an infection.
San Marcos 13, Rosary 9: Katie Tijerina scored twice and added four assists and five steals for the visiting Royals.
Corona del Mar 13, Edison 2: Maddie Musselman scored four goals and Heidi Ritner made 12 saves to lead the host Sea Queens.
Foothill 17, University 4: Cana Manzella and Julia Sellers each scored three goals and Kenzie Snyder made 10 saves, including a penalty, to lead the host Knights, who take on Mater Dei in the quarterfinals.
Mater Dei 15, Saddleback 8: Centers Grace Thawley and Emily Castelblanco each scored four goals to lead the host Monarchs.
In Division 3:
Troy 8, Norco 7: Marissa Vaccher scored the host Warriors’ final five goals, including the winner with 1:20 left in the fourth, to lift the Freeway League champion (23-7). Vaccher finished with six goals while goalie Shannon Tully made 14 saves.
In Division 5:
Esperanza 17, La Canada 7: Junior center Megan Dahlson scored seven goals to lead the host Aztecs (12-17).
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
