IRVINE – As the final seconds counted down Saturday night, the chant rang from the Orange Lutheran faithful.
“This is our house! This is our house!”
After a stellar defensive effort and a driving exhibition by Kelsey Tyler, Orange Lutheran hoisted the CIF-SS Division 1 title plaque, a final step in a remarkable four-year construction of a water polo championship.
Second-seeded Orange Lutheran punctuated their 6-3 victory against No. 5 Foothill with a quick team dab dance move as it broke from its picture at Woollett Aquatics Center.
It was a light-hearted moment, but there were tears of joy from players earlier as Orange Lutheran captured its first CIF title.
“It’s so surreal,” said Emma Skelly, a four-year varsity player who was part of the Lancers’ inaugural team, along with Campbell Ruh. “Freshman year all the way up until now, it’s been our goal to win CIF.
“Being here tonight is just mind-blowing, knowing all of our hard work, all the talk about winning and what it takes. We’re here and we did it and it’s awesome.”
Skelly, Tyler and freshman Hannah Palmer each scored two goals.
Orange Lutheran (26-3) stormed to its 17th consecutive victory behind a defensive press that slowed a Foothill (24-7) attack while taking just four exclusions (one was a double ejection).
Noelle Wijnbelt scored from center in the first and fourth periods but in between there was only a perimeter strike by Dani Ayala. The Lancers also shut out the Foothill’s power play (0 for 3) while going 4 for 7 with the extra attacker.
The Lancers’ Mollie Simmons racked up four steals on the perimeter while Tyler guarded 2 meters and received help if the ball entered in front of the cage.
Brooke Hourigan, one of three freshman starters for the Lancers, added three steals as did senior Bailey Dillard.
“We knew they had a good center but like I’ve said, we have the best 2-meter defender (in Tyler),” Orange Lutheran coach Steve Carrera said. “To avoid those kickouts was huge.”
Added Tyler, “Every single person relied on their teammates to make a good play and to play how we want to play.”
Orange Lutheran used its driving ability to earn seven power plays and two penalty shots. Tyler drew four exclusions and a penalty, the latter of which helped the Lancers seal the victory.
Wijnbelt trimmed Orange Lutheran’s lead to 4-3 with 3:54 left in the fourth, but Tyler drew a penalty with 2:10 left. Skelly, who had one penalty blocked earlier by Kenzi Snyder, converted.
“I attack from the outside and go to the post, just to create movement, create offense, try to draw exclusions,” Tyler said. “I put (defenders) in a bad position … so it’s them not allowing me to swim.”
Myna Simmons also drew three exclusions while Palmer drew one and a penalty, and scored on an open net from mid-pool with 31 seconds left. Freshman goalie Alyssa Barnuevo added five saves.
“We work hard and we develop,” Carrera said. “Getting to this stage is going to motivate everyone.”
Snyder capped a strong postseason with nine saves, anchoring a defense that also played well. Orange Lutheran’s only natural goal was Palmer’s long-distance shot with 31 seconds left against an open net.
But unlike the teams’ previous two games, Orange Lutheran executed on the power-play. The Lancers were a combined 1 for 12 with the extra attacker against the Knights at the Holiday Cup and Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions.
“It’s a 6-on-5 game in the big games,” Carrera said. “We peaked tonight.”
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
