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  • San Clemente's Amber McCutcheon, left, shoots against El Toro's Maddy...

    San Clemente's Amber McCutcheon, left, shoots against El Toro's Maddy Damato in a South Coast League game at San Clemente on Saturday.

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Dan Albano. Sports HS Reporter.

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

El Toro’s girls water polo team faced an extra challenge in preparing for its biggest rival Saturday.

The No. 6 Chargers trained for San Clemente and center Amber McCutcheon this week while also navigating final exams.

“The balancing was really difficult,” El Toro center Dana Acquah-Asare said. “But I think we pulled it through pretty well.”

The Chargers found the right mix in the pool, passing their biggest South Coast League test with a 9-5 victory at San Clemente.

Acquah-Asare, Maddy Damato and Haley Hagerty each scored twice and Tori Rainone had five saves and three steals as El Toro (13-6, 5-0) opened a two-game lead in league with three games left.

The defending CIF Division 2 champions never trailed and road their defense and four fourth-period goals to a somewhat lopsided victory in the recent series. The teams played two one-goal games last season, including the Division 2 final, and another one-goal game this winter.

El Toro also played with an emerging poise.

“Our team is growing every game,” said El Toro attacker Maddy Parenteau, who had a goal, an assist and three steals.

El Toro led, 5-3, going into the fourth and seized control by netting two goals in the first two minutes of the period. Hagerty scored on the Chargers’ first possession as she converted at 2 meters on threaded, dry-pass from Jessica Rodriguez from the point.

McCutcheon countered with a strike from center but Acquah-Asare scored on the counterattack for a 7-4 lead with 5:04 left after the Tritons (13-8, 3-2) were called for an offensive foul.

Damato picked up two fouls guarding McCutcheon but didn’t miss much time and effectively fronted the left-hander at times in league’s signature duel.

“It’s fun to watch especially since they’ve grown up playing each other,” El Toro coach Justin Johnson said. “I don’t know how the referees are able to handle it. … It’s all about your perspective.”

McCutcheon paced the Tritons with two goals but El Toro held San Clemente’s power-play to a 2 for 6 effort. El Toro went 1 for 3.

“We’re just going to have to go into (the playoff drive) with our heads up and say we have nothing to lose,” McCutcheon said.

In nonleague:

No. 1 Orange Lutheran 9, No. 9 Newport Harbor 7: The host Sailors (7-13) led, 5-4, at halftime and had the score tie, 6-6, after three periods. Sarah Barker, Sammie Garcia and Jessica Lynch each scored twice for Newport Harbor.