Newport Harbor makes it look easy against rival

NEWPORT BEACH - The standards inside Newport Harbor's girls water polo program are pretty high, so when Coach Bill Barnett said Friday that his team's play this season has been up and down, the competition is left to shake its head.

Imagine how tough top-ranked Newport Harbor could be when it starts rolling.

The Sailors showed a glimpse of their potential in their Battle of the Bay clash against visiting No. 5 Corona del Mar.

USC-bound senior Kaleigh Gilchrist scored three goal and senior goalie Krissy Burger made nine saves to help Newport Harbor snap a five-match losing streak against Corona del Mar with a 9-3 triumph.

Newport Harbor (4-0) went 0-4 last season against Corona del Mar (3-3).

"This was an up (game)," Barnett said Friday. "Coronado was up. Foothill was not so good. (Long Beach) Wilson was not so good."

The ex-Olympic coach liked his team's defense against the Sea Kings. Newport Harbor pressured the perimeter well and blanked Corona del Mar for the final 10:37. The Sailors covered the last 5:43 without Kate Klippert, who fouled out.

Burger made three of her saves in the fourth period. She highlighted her play with a point-blank stop on a hard shot in front by sophomore Diana Murphy.

"She was tough," Barnett said of Burger.

The vastly-improved Colleen McCall helped spark Newport Harbor's counterattack by making a match-high five steals. The speedy USC-bound senior also drew a penalty shot on a counterattack. "She's the energizer bunny," Barnett said. "You should have seen her against Wilson. Wow."

Newport Harbor opened a 3-0 lead with 5:04 left in the first half as the Cal-bound Klippert faked a power shot on the counterattack and dropped in a lob. But Newport Harbor's offense struggled on the counterattack, going 2 for 6.

Corona del Mar went 0 for 3 on the power play in the first period. The Sea Kings were quiet with the extra attacker the rest of the way.

"Yeah, our 6-on-5 hurt us but I think they were a step ahead of us mentally and that transfers over to a step ahead physically, too," Corona del Mar coach Aaron Chaney said. "I thought it would have been closer."

Murphy, Victoria Kent and Pippa Saunders each scored for Corona del Mar.