Foothill's defense shuts down No. 7 Edison

Foothill's girls water polo team isn't as physically imposing as it has been in the past, but the fourth-ranked Knights still can play tough defense.

Coach Dave Mikesell's squad played a sagging yet mobile defense against No. 7 Edison on Tuesday, and the style helped produce a familiar result for Foothill.

Goalie Katie Groff made 12 saves as the Knights reached the Holiday Cup semifinals with a 10-4 victory at Corona del Mar.

Foothill (4-2) will carry a four-match winning streak into its 11:45 a.m. semifinal Wednesday against top-ranked Corona del Mar (8-0) at Newport Harbor.

No. 3 Newport Harbor (4-2) plays host to defending champion Dos Pueblos in the other semifinal Wednesday at 10:40 a.m. The final is at Newport Harbor at 4:05 p.m.

Foothill held the Chargers (7-5) without a natural goal until Haley Kunert's strike off a nice drive and pass from Danielle Warde with 4:30 left in the fourth.

The Knights' defensive strategy positioned perimeter players in the gaps in front of 2 meters and also used the defenders to double team center, Mikesell said.

“I was happy with the way our defense played,” he said. “They have two really big shooters on the team along with the incoming freshman they have (Alys Williams).

“It was our goal to try and neutralize those two (Warde and Monique Wilson) in particular.”

Warde finished with a pair of power-play goals. Wilson didn't score in two periods. The senior fouled out with 30 seconds left in the first half.

Foothill has been known to press the perimeter in the past.

“We've pressed a lot up until this year simply because we had a lot of size at 2-meter D and we had a lot of power and strength in the goal,” Mikesell said. “We're going to have to gap (this season) … especially (today) with the size that Corona has.”

Freshman Jessie Porter and senior Brittany Zwirner each scored three goals for Foothill. Sophomore Kelli Boling added two goals and three assists.

In another quarterfinal match:

Dos Pueblos 9, No. 10 Rosary 8:Tiera Schroeder scored with 27 seconds left to lift the Chargers at Newport Harbor.

Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com