WEDNESDAY’S CIF-SS GIRLS WATER POLO SEMIFINALS
DIVISION 1
LOS ALAMITOS (22-8) VS. LAGUNA BEACH (28-1)
Site, time: William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center, 7 p.m. (right course)
Outlook: The top-seeded Breakers and No. 5 Griffins haven’t faced off this season but played in 2013 at the Irvine SoCal tournament. Los Alamitos took the fifth-place game, 11-4. Laguna Beach has won a school-record 19 consecutive games. Los Alamitos is coming off an upset of Newport Harbor in the Sunset League on Feb. 12 and a 10-7 victory against No. 4 seeded San Marcos in the quarterfinals. Makenzie Fischer leads a high-powered and swift Breakers’ attack with 120 goals but Aria Fischer (75), Cara Borkovec (59) and Bella Baldridge (54) also have cracked the 50-goal plateau. The Griffins’ balanced attack features sharp-shooter Ella Weber, who scored three goals against San Marcos. The Griffins’ calling card is usually defense. Both teams are seeking their first trip to the Division 1 finals.
SANTA BARBARA (20-9) VS. NEWPORT HARBOR (22-7)
Site, time: William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center, 5 p.m. (right course)
Outlook: The sixth-seeded Dons and No. 7-seeded Sailors upset No. 3 Corona del Mar and No. 2 Foothill, respectively, in the quarterfinals. Newport Harbor beat Santa Barbara in the teams’ only meeting this season, 10-9, in the quarterfinals of the Santa Barbara tournament. Last season, Santa Barbara was seeded No. 1 in Division 1 but the Sailors knocked off the Dons, 8-5, in the semifinals. Santa Barbara starts four seniors, including leading scorer and UC Santa Barbara-bound Betsy Hendrix (61 goals). Newport Harbor’s top-two scorers are seniors Christina O’Beck (63 goals) and Heidi Fults (47). The Sailors’ strength is in goal with senior Cleo Harrington (157 saves) and Carlee Kapana (163 saves).
DIVISION 2
MURRIETA VALLEY (23-6) VS. SANTA MARGARITA (22-6)
Site, time: William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center, 6:30 p.m. (left course)
Outlook: The defending champion Eagles and Nighthawks are playing for the first time since their CIF showdown last season. Santa Margarita won the quarterfinal game, 7-6, in overtime on the road. Santa Margarita is led by reigning Register and Division 2 player of the year Haley Wan (87 goals, 41 assists, 69 steals), versatile Kacey Avalos and emerging goalie Nikki Doumas (230 saves). Center Paige Virgil, who signed with UC Davis, leads Murrieta Valley with 107 goals.
MONTEBELLO (23-6) VS. MATER DEI (25-6)
Site, time: William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center, 5 p.m. (left course)
Outlook: The No. 2 seeded Monarchs and No. 3-seeded Oilers are clashing for the first time since the 2012 semifinals. Mater Dei won the duel, 13-5, to reach its first Division 2 final. The Monarchs are paced by the 1-2 scoring punch of Brianna Daboub (121 goals) and Sydney Blubaugh (68 goals). Both teams have junior goalies to watch. Mater Dei’s Anna Politiski is coming off a season-high 18 saves while Montebello’s Samantha Flores is an Olympic Development Program player. Montebello attacker Laura Jimenez is headed to Michigan. In the quarterfinals, the Oilers edged surging Rosary, 10-9. In the Trinity League, Mater Dei beat Rosary, 14-4.
DIVISION 4
LOS ALTOS OF HACIENDA HEIGHTS (17-14) VS. TROY (22-9)
Site, time: Fullerton College, 6:30 p.m.
Outlook: The No. 2-seeded and defending Division 4 champion Warriors defeated the No. 6 Conquerors, 15-3, on Feb. 8 en route to the title of the Los Altos tournament. In last season’s playoffs, Troy rallied past Los Altos, 7-6, in the semifinals behind 15 saves from Jessica Harris, now a senior. Troy is paced on offense by seniors Minna Mattis (134 goals) and Shannon Grossman (76 goals). Los Altos, seventh in the final Division 4 poll, erupted for seven goals in the fourth period to stun No. 3-seeded Aliso Niguel, 11-10, in the quarterfinals. Senior Emily Molina leads Los Altos with 110 goals. Freshman Brooke Contreras is another player to watch for Los Altos.
DIVISION 6
PASADENA POLY (26-2) VS. YORBA LINDA (24-7)
Site, time: Santa Ana Valley, 6:30 p.m.
Outlook: The top-seeded Mustangs and No. 4 seeded Panthers haven’t faced off since the 2012 playoffs when Pasadena Poly beat the Mustangs, 7-5, en route to an appearance in the Division 6 finals. Yorba Linda’s balanced attack is paced by sharp-shooter Amy Castellano (89 goals) along with centers Burdie Forsch (75) and Taylor Best (71). Brittany Amaya and goalie Becca Stephenson (320 saves) anchor the defense. The Panthers have won 18 consecutive games, including an 8-2 victory against Cypress in the quarterfinals. Yorba Linda defeated Cypress, 11-4, in league. Pasadena Poly features only one senior. Versatile junior Lindsey Kelleher is the team’s top player.
PACIFICA (18-13) VS. PALM DESERT (26-3)
Site, time: Santa Ana Valley, 5 p.m.
Outlook: The Mariners will need to beat the No. 2 seeded Aztecs to advance to a second consecutive Division 6 final. Palm Desert beat Tustin and Savanna a combined 30-5 in reaching the semifinals. Rising sophomore Elise Stein leads the Aztecs with 108 goals. Pacifica, third in the final Division 6 poll, started the playoffs in the wild-card round but has won three consecutive games. Freshman Kalista Hyham has scored 13 goals during the playoffs while freshman goalie Nicole McConnaughey has averaged 11.3 saves. Caroline Thorn paces Pacifica with 103 goals, including 11 in the playoffs.
DIVISION 7
CHINO (23-7) VS. SEGERSTROM (21-9)
Site, time: Chino Hills, 5:30 p.m.
Outlook: The top-seeded Jaguars take on No. 5 Chino and former El Dorado boys coach Josh Hower. The Cowboys knocked off No. 4 Hillcrest of Riverside, 7-6, in the quarterfinals. Last season, Chino nearly upset top-seeded Ocean View in the Division 7 semifinals, falling, 5-4. The Cowboys are led by defender Alexa Cardenas and utility Maddie Meza. Segerstrom has outscored its first two playoff opponents a combined, 33-8. Justine Mills has eight goals in the playoffs while Nathania Cuevas has seven. Goalie Melissa Osorio has averaged 13 saves in the two games.
LA SIERRA OF RIVERSIDE (20-8) VS. OCEAN VIEW (16-9)
Site, time: Segerstrom, 5 p.m.
Outlook: The No. 2-seeded Seahawks are looking to reach a second consecutive Division 7 final. In the quarterfinals, they beat Notre Dame of Riverside, 10-7. In two rounds of the River Valley League, La Sierra beat Notre Dame, 10-4, and, 9-6, en route to the title. Ocean View is led by attacker Elena Isogawa, who scored six goals against Notre Dame.
