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  • Foothill's J.J. Hornecker, left, shoots over Newport Harbor's Cole Brosnan...

    Foothill's J.J. Hornecker, left, shoots over Newport Harbor's Cole Brosnan during a nonleague match at Newport Harbor.

  • Foothill's J.J. Honecker, back, defends Newport Harbor's Makoto Kenney during...

    Foothill's J.J. Honecker, back, defends Newport Harbor's Makoto Kenney during a nonleague match at Newport Harbor on Wednesday.

  • Newport Harbor's Jackson Westerman shoots during a nonleague match against...

    Newport Harbor's Jackson Westerman shoots during a nonleague match against Foothill at Newport Harbor on Wednesday.

  • The ball goes over the head of Newport Harbor goalie...

    The ball goes over the head of Newport Harbor goalie Max Sandberg during a nonleague match against Foothill at Newport Harbor on Wednesday.

  • Foothill's J.J. Hornecker, right, tries to intercept a pass to...

    Foothill's J.J. Hornecker, right, tries to intercept a pass to Newport Harbor's Jason Grew during a nonleague match at Newport Harbor on Wednesday.

  • Newport Harbor's Cole Brosnan tries to shoot over Foothill's Kyle...

    Newport Harbor's Cole Brosnan tries to shoot over Foothill's Kyle Son during a nonleague match at Newport Harbor on Wednesday.

  • The ball splashes in front of Newport Harbor's Nic Rimlinger's...

    The ball splashes in front of Newport Harbor's Nic Rimlinger's face during a nonleague match against Foothill at Newport Harbor on Wednesday.

  • Newport Harbor's Cole Brosnan tries to hold the control of...

    Newport Harbor's Cole Brosnan tries to hold the control of the ball as Foothill's Nolan Ortega's tries to defend him during a nonleague match at Newport Harbor on Wednesday.

  • Foothill coach Jim Brumm gives instructions to his players during...

    Foothill coach Jim Brumm gives instructions to his players during a nonleague match at Newport Harbor on Wednesday.

  • Newport Harbor coach Ross Sinclair yells instructions to his players...

    Newport Harbor coach Ross Sinclair yells instructions to his players during a nonleague match against Foothill at Newport Harbor on Wednesday.

  • Foothill goalie Arash Iadmanesh blocks a shot during a nonleague...

    Foothill goalie Arash Iadmanesh blocks a shot during a nonleague match at Newport Harbor on Sep. 14, 2016.

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Dan Albano. Sports HS Reporter.

// MORE INFORMATION: Staff Mug Shot taken August 26, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER.

NEWPORT BEACH Sometimes the fruits of a CIF-SS championship, or two, continue to emerge long after the shiny gold plaque has been hoisted.

Foothill’s fourth-ranked boys water polo team, coming off two consecutive Division 2 titles, leaned on its postseason experience Wednesday to calm an early storm by host Newport Harbor.

The Knights’ composure and improved execution helped them erase an early deficit and defeat No. 9 Newport Harbor, 10-6, in a nonleague match between Division 1 contenders.

Newport Harbor blanked Foothill, 2-0, in the first period and led, 3-1, early in the second before the Knights (3-0) rattled off seven consecutive goals.

“Definitely having the experience being in the championship games gave us the confidence we needed,” said Foothill goalie Arash Izadmanesh, who made five of his 10 saves in the first period to limit the damage.

“We managed to … just keep playing our game. It’s tradition.”

After Newport Harbor (2-1) opened with a strong press in the first period, Foothill took control by responding with its own tight defense along with a diverse attack.

The Knights, who return three starters and their top two reserves from last season, outscored the Sailors in the second period, 5-1. They received counterattack strikes by Kyle Son and J.T. Miller, two goals by Joe Molina and an extra-man conversion by JJ Hornecker. Molina scored from center and on an after-goal play.

Foothill’s defense held Newport Harbor scoreless for about 12½ minutes, a drought that Newport Harbor center Jackson Westerman ended with a power-play goal 27 seconds into the fourth period.

The Knights’ defense held despite playing much of the stretch without defender Zane Scott (foul trouble). Foothill finished with five field blocks, including two by Nolan Ortega and one by Scott against the power play after an exclusion against Izadmanesh.

Foothill coach Jim Brumm thought the Knights settled down after they “rushed” their play in the first period.

“We’re on a good roll,” Brumm said of his program. “They have a good mindset. In the back of their mind, they’re confident. They have to have faith in their systems and play together.”

Hornecker and Molina each scored three goals, while Westerman paced the Sailors with three goals and four drawn exclusions.

Cole Brosnan added three assists for Newport Harbor, which finished 4 for 6 on the power play.

“We started out well and just kind of went away from the game plan after that,” Newport Harbor coach Ross Sinclair said. “We’ll learn from it.”

In another game:

Troy 13, Vista Murrieta 12 (OT): Tanner Henkhaus scored in sudden-death overtime to lift the Warriors.

Contact the writer: dalbano@scng.com