No. 1 Newport Harbor thrashes Edison

NEWPORT BEACH - Newport Harbor's girls water polo team made a strong, inside move in the Sunset League race last week. On Wednesday night, the county's top-ranked squad floored it.

Powered by its signature press and counterattack, host Newport Harbor sprinted to a five-goal lead in the first period and posted a 9-3 victory against No.5 Edison.

The Sailors (10-1, 2-0) scored twice on the counterattack in the final 1:07 of the first period to open a 6-1 lead.

UC Irvine-bound Danielle Warde scored all three of Edison's goals but only one came with Newport Harbor at even strength.

"I thought our defense play extremely well," said Newport Harbor coach Bill Barnett, whose team opened league by beating No. 2 Los Alamitos.

"I think the girls really focused, they helped each other out and we had a really good counterattack out of the defense."

Newport Harbor's signature goal in the first might have been with 34 seconds left. The Sailors pressed Edison (13-4, 1-1) on the wing, forcing a short pass that was intercepted. Kaleigh Gilchrist and Kate Klippert led the counterattack with Klippert scoring to make it 6-1.

Katie Jackson scored on another counterattack goal in the third for a 9-2 lead midway through the period.

Edison coach Diggy Riley said his squad was expecting a hard press but credited Newport Harbor.

"They're No. 1 for a reason," he said.

Newport Harbor's defense did more than just press. The Sailors also held Edison to a 1-for-6 effort on the power play. Jackson's third-period counterattack strike came moments after Newport Harbor held against a power play.

Newport Harbor goalie Kristin Burger continued her strong play by making seven saves.

Gilchrist scored a match-high five goals but also had five steals.

Newport Harbor also got strong 2-meter defense from a rotation that included Catherine Carpenter, Klippert and Mary Wight. And when Edison did get the ball into center, the Sailors crashed quickly.

Gilchrist sparked Newport Harbor's offense early by scoring on a backhanded shot from center 59 seconds into the match.

Warde finished with a match-high nine steals.

The Chargers play Los Alamitos next week.

Newport Harbor takes on No. 9 Fountain Valley (14-3, 2-0).