Foothill’s girls water polo team received a boost at the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champion with the re-emergence of All-County center Cana Manzella.
The UC Irvine-bound senior scored twice from center and matched her season-high with three goals to help the Knights beat Newport Harbor, 6-2, in the semifinals.
The second-ranked Knights lost to defending champion and undefeated Laguna Beach in the final, but Manzella certainly had the Breakers’ attention. She drew early coverage from Makenzie Fischer, an emerging defender for the U.S. national team.
Manzella’s season had been somewhat quiet until the Santa Barbara semifinal. She came off the bench during the finals of the Holiday Cup.
Foothill coach Jim Brumm said Manzella’s strong performance was a combination of more opportunity, her playing well and the Knights’ philosophy of establishing a strong presence at 2 meters.
“She did an outstanding job,” Brumm said Saturday after the semifinals. “We play a lot of players and I think we’ve been settling down more on lineups a little bit. … We’re getting her more minutes and we’re kind of going with some of the kids a little longer. We have a very deep and very talented team.”
Brumm said Manzella’s presence at 2 meters also helped open the Knights’ perimeter shooters for attempts against Newport Harbor goalie Carlee Kapana. Julia Sellers and Grace-Ann Pevehouse each scored from the outside, a difficult feat against Kapana.
“It’s kind of a work in progress trying to find out the way to use all our tools,” Brumm said. “We want everyone playing well.” …
Newport Harbor coach Bill Barnett said Kapana was recently visited by U.S. national team coach Adam Krikorian. “She’s a tremendous factor (in games),” Barnett said of the senior. …
Surging El Toro, a contender in Division 2, claimed the consolation title in Santa Barbara. El Toro beat Agoura, 7-3, in the consolation final, avenging an earlier loss. …
Huntington Beach captured the Diamond Bar-hosted Lady Brahmas Winter Classic on Saturday. Ocean View finished third. The Bishop’s of La Jolla won the El Dorado-hosted TYR Cup, beating Peninsula in the final.
– DAN ALBANO
GIRLS SOCCER
No other player in the county has put together a week quite like it this season.
Sage Hill junior Lexi Magliarditi put her stamp on the school’s record book, netting 10 goals and dishing out three assists in two matches last week, leading the Lightning to back-to-back Academy League wins by a combined 22-0 margin.
Magliarditi, a transfer from Las Vegas, scored nine goals in Sage Hill’s 14-0 win over Calvary Chapel of Downey last Tuesday – eight coming in the first half alone. She followed that with a one-goal, three-assist game against Whitney of Cerritos two days later.
Magliarditi is second in the county with 14 goals. Tarbut V’Torah’s Carly Malatskey leads all players with 23 goals.
– KENNY CONNOLLY
BOYS SOCCER
Century senior midfielder Amirgy Pineda has been invited to play for the United States U18 national team in an international tournament in Mexico City from Jan. 28-Feb. 7.
“We are all very proud of Ami and for being called up to the national team,” Century coach Bruce Silverman said, “but we will be anxious for his return.”
Pineda will miss four of Century’s games while he is away, including a key Orange League match against Magnolia on Jan. 28. Magnolia is tied for first place with the Centurions.
Pineda was instrumental in Century’s two victories last week. He assisted on a goal in a 2-1 triumph over Katella on Wednesday and finished with a goal and an assist to help Century edge defending CIF-SS Division 3 champion Anaheim, 2-1.
Pineda will play in Century’s games against Santa Ana Valley on Wednesday and Savanna on Friday before leaving for Mexico City.
– DAMIAN DOTTORE
WRESTLING
Laguna Hills can wrap up the South Coast League title tonight when it visits San Clemente. It is homecoming night for the Tritons, with all former wrestlers, coaches and stat girls being recognized at the match.
Servite visits St. John Bosco on Thursday night to decide the Trinity League title. Last year, the match came down to the end, with Servite winning, 37-29.
Both matches are set to start at 7 p.m.
Laguna Hills and San Clemente will host a pair of one-day tournaments Saturday. That same day, Santa Ana hosts Trabuco Hills in a nonleague dual at 6:30 p.m. The dual is also alumni night for the Saints. Trabuco Hills has a pair of former Santa Ana wrestlers – Fernando Serratos and Alex Becerraon – on its coaching staff.
– DAMIAN CALHOUN
COMMITMENTS
A trio of All-County football players have committed to four-year schools. First-team cornerback Maurice Davison of Servite committed to Northern Arizona while first-team running back Carlos Martin of La Habra picked Portland State. Second-team offensive lineman Keven Dixon of Buena Park committed to Utah.
– DAN ALBANO
