No. 4 Sea Kings come back to sink No. 1 Sailors in OT, 6-5

GOLETA Corona del Mar's girls water polo team produced another stirring comeback Saturday night.

This one, however, came with a few bonuses.

Fourth-ranked Corona del Mar trailed No. 1 Newport Harbor by three goals at halftime but forced overtime and went on to post a 6-5 victory in the finals of the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions at Dos Pueblos.

Corona del Mar's Elise Molnar snapped a 5-5 deadlock with a power-play strike with 1:56 left in the first, three-minute overtime period. The junior drew the exclusion and scored on a cross pass from Carissa Dice.

The Sea Kings (11-5) not only captured the tournament for second time in three years but beat their Back Bay rival for the first time in three chances this season.

“We all really wanted to win,” said Corona del Mar junior goalie Kate Baldoni, selected the tournament's MVP. “We really wanted to come out and get back (against) Newport.”

Newport Harbor defeated Corona del Mar, 5-3, in the teams' first match this season. But the second meeting was unusually lopsided. In the third-place match at the Holiday Cup, Newport Harbor posted a 9-3 victory.

But in notching a victory Saturday, the Sea Kings followed the formula of their 6-5 victory against Laguna Beach in the quarterfinals Friday. Corona del Mar trailed, 4-1, at halftime.

Corona del Mar coach Aaron Chaney credited the latest rally to the leadership of Allison Peotter, Dice, Heather Van Hiel and Baldoni.

“Those four girls are really rallying everybody,” he said. “When we played Newport the last time, I'm looking at people and I'm kind of getting blank stares and not a lot of feedback.

“This time, I've got fire in the eyes and people are saying things. … It's a big difference.”

Corona del Mar center Victoria Kennedy (match-high three goals) made a statement by scoring the first goal of the fourth period. The junior cut the Sailors' lead to 5-4 on a sweep shot 30 seconds into the frame. “That really got the girls going,” Chaney said.

Van Hiel tied the score, 5-5, with 1:55 left in the fourth on a goal from about 7 meters that narrowly beat the shot clock.

Baldoni finished with seven saves and anchored a defense that held Newport Harbor (16-2) scoreless for final 21:13. After falling behind 1-0, the second-seeded Sailors scored four consecutive goals to lead 4-1 in the second and led 5-2 at halftime.

Newport Harbor coach Bill Barnett thought his team had an emotional letdown but also credited Corona del Mar, the fifth seed. “I'm never surprised when Corona plays well,” he said. “They're a good team and well coached.”

Corona del Mar collected some revenge against top-seeded Dos Pueblos (14-2) in the semifinals. Corona del Mar posted a 4-1 victory against a squad that rallied to beat the Sea Kings, 10-9, in overtime earlier this season.

Dos Pueblos' lone goal came on a rebound conversion by Kiley Neushul with 4:10 left in the third period. “After winning that game, we all got a confidence boost,” said Baldoni, who had 13 saves in the semifinals.

In the third-place match:

Dos Pueblos 7, Foothill 5: Kathryn Bustard and Brittany Zwirner each scored twice for the Knights (11-4) in the loss.

Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com