Skip to content
  • San Clemente's girls water polo team and senior Makenna Smith...

    San Clemente's girls water polo team and senior Makenna Smith used strong defense to defeat Villa Park in the second round of the Villa Park Classic on Thursday night.

of

Expand
Dan Albano. Sports HS Reporter.

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

San Clemente’s girls water polo players know being ranked No. 1 in CIF-SS Division 2 has put a target on their caps.

Opponents such as Thursday night’s offering – undefeated Villa Park – will be extra motivated to play the Tritons. But San Clemente met the challenge on the opening night of the Villa Park Classic with a suitable rebuttal: tough defense.

The Tritons recorded seven field blocks and got five goals from center Amber McCutcheon en route to a 13-8 victory in the second round at Villa Park.

San Clemente (3-0) will face Santiago of Corona, a 10-8 winner against short-handed Edison, in the quarterfinals today at Villa Park.

The Tritons opened the 32-team tournament earlier Thursday with a 21-5 victory behind seven goals by McCutcheon.

Villa Park entered Thursday night’s match with an 8-0 record and the Benson Cup title on its early-season resume. The Tritons led, 5-3, at halftime and found separation in the third period on the strength of their defense.

San Clemente blocked three power-play shots by the Spartans in the field.

“We just realized that we need to pick up our defense and help out our goalie (Hylah Prussak) more,” San Clemente’s Makenna Smith said. “We have a big target on our back. We just kind of have to keep going and not give up.”

Smith, Cassidy Smithson and Alaina Cousineau each blocked power-play shots in the third and finished with two field blocks apiece.

Marcela Portales scored five goals to lead Villa Park, which plays Edison today.