The splashes and laughter from University’s girls water polo team during warm-down Thursday were louder than normal.
So was its anticipation about its next opponent.
Even the team selfie quickly was decorated in the spirit of the Trojans’ accomplishment at the Woollett Aquatics Center.
University caught a wave of CIF exhilaration by defeating Irvine, 11-5, to claim third place in the Pacific Coast League and qualify for the postseason for the first time since 2005.
“We’re all really excited,” said University senior Maddie Chen, who scored four goals to share the team-high with Shawna Kedzie.
University (14-9, 5-5) and Irvine (10-19, 5-5) finished tied for third in league. Since the teams split their two league matches, goal-differential was used to break the tie for the league’s third and final automatic berth in the Division 1 playoffs.
Irvine won the teams’ first game, 9-8, so Beckman knew it needed to win by at least two goals to advance on goal-differential. The Trojans responded by opening an 8-1 lead at halftime. Goalie Molly Hudash helped seal the victory by making six of her 13 saves in the second half.
“We were raring to go,” said Chen, a team captain with Kyla Pickell (two goals). “We really wanted to win from the beginning of the game.”
University was led by interim coach Dave Johnson, who replaced Jeff Colton early in the season after Colton departed to become an assistant at Arizona State. The players spoke with Colton on the phone after their victory Thursday.
“He said he was very proud of us,” Pickell said.
Junior Katie Quon scored twice for Irvine.
In the Sea View League:
Laguna Hills 9, Capistrano Valley 6: Bailey Lloyd scored five goals to help the visiting Hawks (5-4 in league) capture the league’s playoff for the third and final automatic CIF berth.
In the Freeway League:
Troy 8, Sunny Hills 7: Marissa Vaccher scored a team-high three goals as the Warriors (22-7) edged the Lancers to finish 10-0 in league.
In a nonleague game:
No. 1 Laguna Beach 22, No. El Toro 7: Bella Baldridge and Makenzie Fischer each scored five goals to lead the host Breakers (27-0), who have won 48 consecutive games, one shy of Foothill’s county record from 2002-2004.
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
