MURRIETA – The Murrieta Valley girls water polo team needed a few things to go its way during the fourth quarter.
The Nighthawks got everything it wanted except the tying goal.
Orange Lutheran standout Myna Simmons fouled out with a little less than five minutes remaining in the match. The Lancers used their depth to protect the lead and held Murrieta Valley scoreless down the stretch to escape with a 9-7 victory Wednesday evening in a Division 1 playoff opener between last season’s top two section champions.
“We have relied on defense the entire year, and that’s what our program is known for,” Orange Lutheran coach Steve Carrera said. “Defense saved us a number of times during this match, and we really need it down the stretch.”
It was historic match for the Inland area, as Murrieta Valley became the first Riverside County program to compete in a Division 1 playoff match. The Nighthawks were elevated into the elite division after winning the 2016 Division 2 title.
Orange Lutheran (22-6) never trailed in the match, but the Lancers were unable to get a huge lead similar to the one they had when they beat the Nighthawks, 8-5, two weeks ago at the Southern California Championships. Simmons, a senior headed to UCLA, once again was a thorn for Murrieta Valley, as she scored three goals during the opening half.
Murrieta Valley (22-8) was able to answer back and tie the score four times in the opening half, as Christina Reyes, Megan Falcon, Taylor Hensley and Maryn Dempsey each scored for the Nighthawks.
Mollie Simmons gave Orange Lutheran a 5-4 advantage with three minutes remaining in the first half, and the Lancers doubled their lead when Izzy Gazzaniga fired past Murrieta Valley goalkeeper Morgan Jones to beat the halftime buzzer.
Myna Simmons converted a penalty shot early in the fourth quarter to give Orange Lutheran an 8-5 lead. Randi Reinhardt scored a goal from half tank to give Murrieta Valley some hope, and then Reyes drew the third exclusion on Myna Simmons with 4:54 remaining on the clock. Reinhardt scored again on the power play, as her shot hit the cage and ricocheted off Orange Lutheran goalie Alyssa Barnuevo into the cage.
“We know we had to foul Myna out to have any chance to win,” Murrieta Valley coach Jason Shumway said. “We didn’t give up. The girls kept battling and gave us a chance to maybe win.”
Orange Lutheran regrouped and showed the defensive intensity that helped win the Division 1 crown last season. Murrieta Valley managed only two shots on goals on its final six possession. Reyes had a backhand clang off the crossbar with a minute to play. The Nighthawks had another chance to tie, but Orange Lutheran’s Brooke Hourigan intercepted a pass on the perimeter. Hannah Palmer scored with 11 seconds to seal the win for the Lancers.
“We made sure we were communicating and working together as a team,” Orange Lutheran junior Alyse Tyler said about the defense. “We’ve been there before, with Myna getting three (fouls), but we have players who can step up.”
Contact the writer: ejohnson@scng.com
