CdM finds a way to get past Rosary (video)

Corona del Mar’s top-ranked girls water polo team needed a spark midway though the second period of its Division I quarterfinal Friday night.

Rosary led by three goals and seemed full of confidence.

Corona del Mar turned to its counterattack and followed that wake to a hard-fought, 9-7, triumph at Beckman.

The Sea Kings (28-1) will play Foothill in the semifinals Wednesday night in Irvine.

Corona del Mar trailed, 4-1, with just under three minutes left in the first half but scored four of its next eight goals on counterattacks. The Sea Kings also converted a man-advantage chances that essentially was a counterattack goal.

“We relied a lot on our counter,” Corona del Mar coach Aaron Chaney said. “I knew that we had the speed on them.”

But for all the success on the counterattack, Chaney said the Sea Kings need to show more balance on offense.

“I was just disappointed with our front-court offense,” he said. “When we go to the next level … we can’t rely on our counter like that. We’re going to have to rely more on our half-course offense.”

The Sea Kings took their first lead early in the third as Leslee Kaczmarek converted a save by goalie Kate Baldoni into a counterattack strike and a 5-4 lead just 1:10 into the second half.

Corona del Mar then seemed to land the knockout punch.

Baldoni blocked a critical 6-on-4 power-play chance by Rosary (15-13) and Corona del Mar quickly converted on its own power play. Kate Berry pushed in a short cross pass by Kaczmarek with 4:01 left in the third as the Sea Kings led, 6-4.

Attacker Heather Van Hiel then scored from 7 meters to make it, 7-4, with 2:38 left.

But late in the third, Rosary emerging junior center Katie Rigler powered in a shot at center off Baldoni to make it a two-goal game.

Corona del Mar led by three or four goals for most of the fourth but the Royals didn’t go quietly.

Krystle Morgan added a power-play strike in closing seconds. Morgan and Rigler each finished with a match-high three goals.

Fans from each side cheered when the final buzzer sounded.

“We did a lot things right,” Rosary coach Mustafa Hassan said. “That’s the best we’ve played in a losing situation. It’s something that I’ve always told my kids - I’d rather play well and lose than play poorly and win. That was the prime example there.”

Said Chaney of Rosary, “The girls didn’t back down. They just kept going for it."

The teams played to a 2-2 draw in the fourth but it was a frustrating seven minutes for Corona del Mar. During one stretch, the Sea Kings were whistled for consecutive offensive fouls in their backcourt transitioning to their counterattack.

Corona del Mar also was called for three ejections and Chaney picked up a yellow card.

Rosary’s specialty units were critical early. The Royals scored three of their first four goals on the power-play and also converted a penalty shot drawn by Hannah Croghan.

Morgan fired in a spectacular bar-in shot on the power-play to give Rosary a 4-1 cushion with three minute left in the second.

“My smile was ear to ear at that point,” Hassan said.

Rosary finished 5 for 8 on the power play; Corona del Mar went 3 for 6.

Baldoni and Rosary goalie Julianna Kiesselbach each finished with nine saves.

In another Division I quarterfinal:

Newport Harbor 10, Mater Dei 0: Krissy Burger made 12 saves and Kaleigh Gilchrist added five goals to lead the host Sailors (23-6), who play Dos Pueblos in the semifinals. Dos Pueblos defeated Long Beach Wilson, 10-6, behind 15 saves by goalie Sami Hill.

In the Division V quarterfinals:

La Habra 6, Upland 4: Dani Kennedy scored six goals in La Mirada to lead the Highlanders (25-5), who play No. 2 Arlington in the semifinals Wednesday.

Sunny Hills 10, Yucaipa 3: Sarah Shin made 11 saves in La Mirada to lead the Lancers (23-6), who play No. 1 Los Osos in the semifinals Wednesday.

Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com