Mater Dei dominates showdown with Santa Margarita

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA — The Mater Dei girls water polo team showed it is the top-ranked team in CIF-SS Division 2, as the Monarchs easily defeated host Santa Margarita, 9-3, in a Trinity League game Thursday night.

Mackenzie Barr didn’t waste any time putting Mater Dei (19-4, 1-0) on the scoreboard with less than a minute gone in the opening period with a hole-shot goal.

Mater Dei sophomore sensation Brianna Daboub then took over the remainder of the period, scoring three consecutive goals in a three-minute span.

Barr (3 goals) and Daboub (3 goals) accounted for six goals for the Monarchs, who are ranked sixth in the county.

"We try to have a type of telepathy and always know where we are in the pool,” Daboub said of her teammate Barr.

“It’s a good team win for us,” Daboub said.

Daboub (104) and Barr (102) each have over 100 goals this season and are now the top two goal scorers in the county.

“Its (top scorer) weird to me, it’s not something I’m used to, but exciting,” Barr said.

After falling behind 6-0, Santa Margarita (11-10, 1-1), ranked No. 8 in Division 2, scored on a goal by sophomore attacker Haley Wan, who was set up for the score by a nice cross pass from junior defender Morgan Martinez with 1:44 left in the half.

Morgan Martinez and senior Olivia Romo also scored for Santa Margarita, both in the final period.

The Monarchs' smothering defense forced the Eagles to take long-range attempts, with many hitting the crossbar.

Clair McKinnon (2 goals) and sophomore attacker Sydney Blubaugh (1 goal) also scored for Mater Dei.

“Defensively, we played really well tonight,” Mater Dei coach Chris Segesman said.