It was a difficult test featuring an unexpected twist, but Orange Lutheran’s girls water polo team still passed Tuesday night and continued its breakout winter.
Utility Emma Skelly scored four goals and attacker Campbell Ruh added three as the No. 5 Lancers overcame Kelsey Tyler’s foul trouble to sink No. 10 Mater Dei, 9-7, at Orange Lutheran High. The Lancers clinched at least a share of their first Trinity League title with the victory.
Tyler, a versatile junior, picked up two fouls in the first, heading to the bench with just under three minutes left in the period. She returned with about three left minutes in the third, but she fouled out seconds later on her second back-court exclusion.
Orange Lutheran’s high-scoring Myna Simmons also picked up two first-half fouls, but the Lancers (20-3 overall) improved to 3-0 in league thanks to their depth and strong defense late in the fourth.
“If anyone had doubts about our depth, today we showed we’re a deep team,” Orange Lutheran coach Steve Carrera said.
Mater Dei (9-7, 1-1) overcame an early 2-0 deficit. The Monarchs closed within one goal twice in the second half, including at 8-7 on a power-play strike by freshman center Grace Thawley (three goals) with 5:31 left.
But the Lancers’ Paris Major, who didn’t start, responded with a goal with 4:17 left on a cross-pass from Bailey Dillard.
“Huge back-breaker,” Carrera said of Major’s goal, her fifth of the season.
Orange Lutheran’s defense held in the final two minutes on a field-block by Dillard, a save by Bailey Meyer and a steal by Skelly with 15 seconds left.
“It was tough,” Skelly of the game. “It will be cool to use this for the better (later in the season).”
Mater Dei’s Kayla Constandse had three goals. Mater Dei went 4 for 9 on the power play; Orange Lutheran finished 4 for 8, including a two-player advantage as time expired.
“We came today and competed. I’m extremely proud of the girls,” Mater Dei coach Chris Segesman said. “The Trinity League is competitive and it’s exciting. … We’ve got to step up and win one.”
Mater Dei plays at Santa Margarita on Thursday at 5 p.m.
Also in the Trinity League:
Rosary 12, No. 9 Santa Margarita 7: Katherine Tijerina had five goals and five steals to lift the Royals (16-8, 1-1).
In the Crestview League:
Villa Park 13, Canyon 9: Claire Sonne scored four goals and Marcela Portales added three to lift the visiting Spartans (18-2, 2-0) past the Comanches (14-5, 1-1).
In nonleague:
Los Amigos 9, Santa Ana Valley 8 (OT): Megan Stevens scored her fourth goal about one minute into sudden-death to lift the Lobos in a Division 7 duel.
In the Freeway:
Troy 11, Sunny Hills 2: Shelby Maldonado scored four goals to lead the visiting Warriors (8-6, 5-0).
In boys water polo:
U.S. national team player Thomas Dunstan, a left-handed junior from Connecticut, has enrolled at Mater Dei, Segesman said.
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
