IRVINE – Orange Lutheran’s girls water polo team isn’t just talking about refocusing after capturing the CIF-SS Division 1 title last winter.
The Lancers are putting their words into action.
And on Saturday, they accomplished something their championship squad didn’t.
Myna Simmons scored three goals and her sister, Mollie Simmons, racked up seven steals to help top-seeded Orange Lutheran beat No. 2 seed Dos Pueblos of Goleta, 7-4, in the finals of the Villa Park Classic at Beckman.
Last season, the Lancers lost in the finals of the Villa Park Classic to San Marcos but rode a breakthrough in mid-January to their first section title.
Orange Lutheran celebrated the crown but has a new focus.
“It’s a new season. It’s new girls,” Lancers coach Steve Carrera said. “This is how you build a program. You don’t have a hangover from what you just did. You just keep pushing forward. The girls are hungry to win.
“It’s not just about championships. It’s about getting better. It’s about competing and right now, that’s what our focus is.”
UCLA-bound Myna Simmons scored all three of her goals in the first half, including a go-ahead strike on a penalty shot.
Maddy Vincent highlighted the second period by firing a cross-cage shot from center in off a post for a 3-1 advantage.
Sophomore Hannah Palmer gave Orange Lutheran a 5-2 lead going into the fourth with a backhanded shot with 21 seconds left in the third.
Sam Britt then put Orange Lutheran in control by scoring a quick power-play goal off her own drawn exclusion and a pass from Myna Simmons 19 seconds into the fourth period.
“There is no, ‘We’re great’ yet. We have to build up to that,” said Myna Simmons, who helped the Lancers’ extend their winning streak to 22 matches.
Orange Lutheran played without three players but Dos Pueblos (7-1) was without three players traveling with the U.S. youth team.
In the third-place match:
No. 8 Huntington Beach 6, No. 6 Los Alamitos 3: Lauren Smith scored twice and Marina Hyham made 11 saves as the Oilers (6-1) posted their first victory against a Dave Carlson-coached Griffins team.
“I believe in this team and I think they are starting to believe in themselves,” HB coach Mark Canner said in a text message. “
Contact the writer: dalbano@scng.com
