Young CdM comes up short against Wilson

IRVINE - Corona del Mar’s new cast of title contenders proved worthy of the spotlight Saturday afternoon in the CIF Division 2 boys water polo final.

Before a large and vocal crowd, the Sea Kings and their squad of seven first-year starters dueled Long Beach Wilson to the final seconds.

But the third-seeded Bruins made more timely plays in the second half and dethroned top-seeded Corona del Mar, 7-6, in a clash of Southern Section powers at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center.

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Willis Allen scored from the perimeter with 3:54 left in the fourth to give the Bruins a 7-5 lead, but it was a late steal by Maxwell Irving that sealed the Sea Kings’ first loss in the Division 2 playoffs.

Corona del Mar was 19-0 all-time in Division 2 postseason games.

“I’m super proud of (our) guys,” Corona del Mar coach Barry O’Dea said. “They came a long way from where we were when we started last January. … It was a one-goal game.”

Corona del Mar (24-7) trailed, 7-6, but had the ball when it called a timeout with 31 seconds left in the fourth. Irving made sure Corona del Mar’s play never materialized.

After the Sea Kings made one pass, the junior forced a short pass at the top of the perimeter and grabbed the loose ball.

Long Beach Wilson (21-10) called time out with 15 seconds left and then ran out the clock to avenge two overtime losses against the Sea Kings during the regular season.

“We won the one that counts,” Long Beach Wilson junior Jackson Kimbell said.

Irving also scored a match-high four goals, including a go-ahead, perimeter strike in the third that gave the Bruins a 5-4 lead with 5:16 left. Irving also scored a power-play goal to push the Bruins’ lead to 6-4 about a minute later and cap a key, 3-0, run to open the second half.

Long Beach Wilson also got a huge performance from goalie Nick Hoy. The senior made 15 saves, including five against the Sea Kings’ man-advantage.

“He played his best game of the year,” Wilson coach Tony Martinho said of Hoy.

Corona del Mar finished 4 for 11 with the extra attacker, including 1 for 4 in the fourth. Ari Marks’ scored on the man-advantage with 3:34 left in the fourth to trim the Bruins’ lead to 7-6.

“Championships come down to putting away your 6-on-5s and playing some defense,” O’Dea said. “Wilson did it better than we did today.”

Center Ben Zepfel scored two goals to lead Corona del Mar’s offense.

Long Beach Wilson went 4 for 8 on the man-advantage en route to its 12th Southern Section title, but first in Division 2.

Corona del Mar counted on several juniors Saturday, including attackers Jake Wyatt and Reid Chase who each scored once.

"We're going to be pretty good," O'Dea said.