GROUP EFFORT: Los Alamitos upset third-seeded Dos Pueblos, 5-4, in the quarterfinals of the Masters tournament on Friday DAN ALBANO, OCVARSITY.COM |
Los Alamitos pulls off stunning win in Masters
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Griffins knock off Dos Pueblos, 5-4, to set up a meeting with CdM in the semifinals.
Los Alamitos' girls water polo team didn't just get a second chance Friday night. The Griffins got a third, and didn't waste it.
In its third attempt to beat Dos Pueblos of Goleta, Los Alamitos played arguably its best match of the season and stunned the third-seeded Chargers, 5-4, in a CIF-SS Masters quarterfinal at El Toro.
The Griffins (23-9) had dropped two previous matches against the Division II champions by scores of 5-4 and 6-5.
But in their second chance at the postseason, Los Alamitos never trailed against Dos Pueblos (28-4) in reaching Saturday's 2:15 p.m. semifinal against No. 2 Corona del Mar at El Toro.
Newport Harbor will play Foothill in Saturday's 1 p.m. semifinal.
Sixth-seeded Los Alamitos scored the first four goals of the match.
“The girls were really fired up to get another chance to play Dos Pueblos,” Los Alamitos coach Dave Carlson said.
Los Alamitos lost to Foothill, 6-3, in the Division I quarterfinals but the next day, the Griffins returned to practice.
Though the team had not yet been selected as an at-large entry to the Masters, Carlson said his players made their intention known.
“They chose to practice and they chose to practice hard,” he said.
The work paid off against Dos Pueblos. Three of the Griffins' first four goals came on the power play.
Dos Pueblos cut the Griffins' lead to 4-3 going into the fourth period but Kaley Dodson scored her match-high third goal off a drive into center and gave Los Alamitos a 5-3 lead with 4:40 left.
The sophomore also made a steal with 36 seconds left on a counterattack chance by Dos Pueblos' Kiley Neushul.
Dodson finished with four steals and added an assist. Kaylee Miller and freshman Cory Dodson also had power-play goals.
Los Alamitos finished 3 for 5 on the power play and held Dos Pueblos to an 0 for 3.
On Dos Pueblos' first power play in the first period, Los Alamitos' Cory Dodson and April Lembi made blocks in the field, providing a preview of the Griffins' defensive mindset.
“We played some super solid defense and that definitely played a huge role,” Kaley Dodson said.
In other quarterfinal matches:
Corona del Mar 7, Santa Barbara 2: Seven players scored goals for the Sea Kings (26-7) at Santa Margarita.
Newport Harbor 8, Laguna Beach 7: The top-seeded Sailors (31-3) led, 7-3, going into the fourth and got power-play goal by Nina McCall with 57 seconds left to help hold off the Breakers (22-10).
Foothill 13, Long Beach Wilson 4: Olivia Cummins scored five perimeter goals to lead the Knights (24-7) at Mater Dei.
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
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