IRVINE – Haley Wan‘s flair for the dramatic in sudden-death overtime lifted Santa Margarita’s girls water polo team to another huge victory Wednesday night.
Wan scored on a direct shot from just outside 5 meters with 2:26 left in the first sudden-death overtime period to lift the Eagles past Murrieta Valley, 9-8, in the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center.
Top-seeded and defending champion Santa Margarita (23-6) will play Trinity League rival Mater Dei in the finals Saturday at 4 p.m. at Woollett.
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Click here to see the photos from this game
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Last season, Wan scored in sudden-death overtime to help Santa Margarita edge Mater Dei in a league game. The Eagles later edged the Monarchs in the Division 2 final, 12-11, in overtime.
“I knew that my team was depending on me, so I just gave it a shot,” Wan said of her winning goal. “I think I play better when I’m poised and calm. I need to keep calm for everyone on my team, too, because I know they’re watching me.”
Wan’s clutch performance Wednesday came after she almost drew a penalty shot or an ejection at the end of the second 3-minute overtime with a turn just outside set. But as she moved toward the cage, Murrieta Valley (23-7) grabbed a steal as the game went to sudden-death overtime.
Wan won the sprint and the Eagles’ Sophia Baia fired the first shot but Murrieta Valley goalie Abigail Goveia made her 15th save. But on the restart, Wan drew the foul outside 5 meters and shot.
“Haley is a great player,” Murrieta Valley coach Bryan Lynton said. “That’s a rough way to lose, especially the direct shot right at the end. We played well. Santa Margarita is good.”
The Princeton-bound senior also delivered in a game that Santa Margarita trailed, 6-3, early in the third period.
“I think it was a really good stepping stone,” Wan said of the victory. “We really had to step it up and fight back. … I think it really shows we’re fighters.”
Santa Margarita scored three goals in the final four minutes of the third period to tie the score, 6-6. Kelli Baumgardner scored on a power-play, Diana Carballo netted a goal on a drive to center and Kacey Avalos scored on another power play with 13 seconds left in the third.
The score remained, 6-6, after regulation. Both teams led in the first 3-minute OT but Murrieta Valley’s Delayne Lynton — daughter of the coach — scored with 30 seconds left in the second OT to force sudden death and an 8-8 deadlock.
Lynton’s strike evened the score after Santa Margarita took an 8-7 lead in the first 3-minute extra period on a power-play strike by Avalos (assisted by Baumgardner) and perimeter goal by freshman Delaney Mazelin.
Wan’s turn at the end of the second 3-minute OT came on the heels of a counterattack chance but the Nighthawks. Virgil made the steal and was swimming free near mid-pool when Murrieta Valley was whistled for an offensive foul away from the ball.
Wan finished with three goals, six steals, four field blocks and also drew four ejections. Santa Margarita goalie Nikki Doumas added 12 saves.
Lynton said Santa Margarita’s defense was key. The Eagles’ held the high-scoring Virgil to one goal — on a penalty she drew — and limited strong-armed Madeleine Sanchez to two goals. Murrieta Valley also endured a 12:10 scoring drought to close out regulation.
“They did a good job neutralizing Virgil,” Lynton said. “That’s the big key for us.”
Virgil drew five exclusions and the penalty shot. Murrieta Valley went 2 for 7 with the extra attacker; Santa Margarita 3 for 7.
Also in the Division 2 semifinals:
Mater Dei 10, Montebello 7: Brianna Daboub scored seven goals, including two in the Monarchs’ key four-goal third period, to help Mater Dei reach a third consecutive Division 2 final.
The score was tied at halftime, 4-4, but Mater Dei (26-6) got goals from Skyler Pyle, Daboub and Courtney Jarvis to take a 7-4 lead in the first 2:02 of the third.
Montebello (23-7) trimmed the Monarchs’ lead to 8-7 with 4:03 left in the fourth but Daboub responded with two more strikes in the final two minutes. The USC-bound senior scored on a counterattack with 1:31 left and punctuated the 9-7 lead with a fist pump. She then scored from the perimeter with 52 seconds left.
She also scored twice in the game from center, including a first-period sweep shot.
“Daboub is an exceptional player,” Mater Dei coach Chris Segesman said. “She’s shown it the entire CIF run so far. She’s been leading this team with her heart and her courage. … She’s come into her own.”
Pyle’s scored 23 seconds into the third quarter, firing a shot from the wing in off the post to give Mater Dei its first lead at 5-4. Daboub won the third-period sprint to help set up the goal.
While Mater Dei’s third period scoring was critical, so was the Monarchs’ defense. Montebello led, 3-2, after the first but Mater Dei forced five turnovers in the second period to help turn the tide.
“We did a really good job containing them,” Segesman said. “They provided trouble for us because they move really well.”
Montebello went 2 for 6 on extra; Mater Dei 0 for 5.
Both teams had assistant coaches receive red cards.
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
