It wasn’t a full act of revenge, but it was a start for Ocean View’s girls water polo team.
In their first match-up since Segerstrom beat them in last year’s CIF-SS Division 7 final, the Seahawks grabbed an early lead and held on for a 7-6 victory in a Golden West League game Thursday at Ocean View High.
“It just doesn’t compare to a CIF game,” Ocean View coach Melissa Fernandez said. “We’re looking toward a league title, and you need this to take that next step.”
Ocean View (12-5, 4-0) and Segerstrom (10-4, 3-1) could be on course for another postseason meeting. The Seahawks are No. 2 in this week’s Division 6 poll, and the Jaguars are No. 3.
Ocean View jumped out to a 3-0 lead at halftime behind three goals from Elena Isogawa and a stifling defensive effort.
“We came out flat,” Segerstrom coach Tim Fredericksen said. “In the second half, we started following directions and got back our aggressiveness.”
The Jaguars went on an offensive blitz that lasted a little more than two minutes in the third period. Justine Mills scored two goals for Segerstrom in the flurry, but Shannon Graham’s two goals in that stretch kept the score in Ocean View’s favor, 5-4.
In goal, Alyssa Welfringer came up with three ranging saves late in the quarter to protect the Seahawks’ 6-4 lead.
“Our goalie has been saving us all year,” Fernandez said, “especially in the big games.”
In the fourth, Segerstrom’s Rebecca Gutierrez and Aurora Ocegura each tallied their second goals of the game, but Kari Lane’s goal with just over five minutes remaining held off the Jaguars.
In the Empire League:
Cypress 7, Pacifica 6: Sarah Smith scored on a penalty shot with about 30 seconds left for the Centurions (13-7, 1-0), who are ranked fifth in Division 6.
In the Sea View League:
Mission Viejo 13, Capistrano Valley 10: Skylar Newhouser and Emilee Feilmeier each scored five goals for the Diablos (19-4, 4-0). Newhouser also had three steals.
