Newport Harbor works late, downs Los Alamitos

Newport Harbor's top-ranked girls water polo team took a major step toward claiming the Sunset League title by edging No. 2 Los Alamitos, 6-5, in a thrilling overtime match at Newport Harbor on Wednesday night.

Senior attacker Katie Jackson scored the only goal of overtime, firing in a low, cross-cage shot from the slight wing with 51 seconds left in the first three-minute frame. Jackson's goal came on a power-play chance Newport Harbor created on a counterattack with its power-play killing unit.

Newport Harbor's five-on-six counterattack produced two other similar goals and loomed large in a league-opening match that was tight throughout.

"I thought both teams played like champions tonight," Los Alamitos coach Dave Carlson said. "I think anyone who came out to this game got a treat."

Newport Harbor (8-1, 1-0) sealed the victory with its defense. Goalie Kristin Burger made a save and a steal in the second three-minute overtime to set the stage for Madison McLaren. The sophomore, playing heavier minutes after Kate Klippert fouled out in the third, also made a steal at 2 meters with 37 seconds left.

It briefly appeared as if Los Alamitos' Cory Dodson had gained inside position on McLaren but the defender swung around Dodson to knock the ball back to Burger.

"I knew it was going to be an ejection or a steal, so I just had to take a risk," said McLaren, who also drew an ejection in the first half. "I just out-reached her by an inch."

Los Alamitos (11-1, 0-1) got a last chance but shot over the goal in the closing seconds. Burger finished with 11 saves, including a first-period save on a penalty shot by Kaley Dodson. Los Alamitos' Savanna Smith had 10 saves.

Kaley Dodson found her mark in the final minute of the third. She scored on a perimeter skip shot with 56 seconds left and fired another perimeter shot in off the post with 5 seconds left to cut Newport Harbor's lead to 5-4.

Then less than a minute into the fourth, the Stanford-bound senior tied the score, 5-5, on a power-play strike. Dari Watkins, who picked up two fouls in the first period but remained in the game, drew the ejection and passed to Kaley Dodson for the goal.

But Burger was steady. In overtime, she made a save against the power play that sparked the counterattack to produce Jackson's winning strike.

In the second period, Catherine Carpenter stopped a Los Alamitos power play with a steal. Newport Harbor turned the turnover into a goal by Colleen McCall. The USC-bound senior gave Newport Harbor a 4-2 lead by making a weak-side drive and scoring on a pass by Kailyn Obenauer.

McCall and Kaley Dodson each finished with three goals.

Then late in the third, Burger blocked a power-play chance that led to a counterattack goal by McCall, who made it 5-2 with 2:25 left.

Carlson praised Burger but added that Newport Harbor's speed was a key element to its five-on-six counter.

"You have to be fast to make that work," Carlson said.

Los Alamitos went 3 for 6 on the power play; Newport Harbor 4 for 6.

Newport Harbor cherished the victory but kept focused on the challenge next week: No. 5 Edison. "We still have a big game (next week)," Burger said.

Said Carlson, "First and second aren't a shoe-in in this league. .. but it does put them (Newport Harbor) in the driver's seat to win league."

Burger's penalty block came just two minutes into the game. Cory Dodson drew the 5 meter 2:05 into a scoreless match but Burger reached to her right to stop Kaley Dodson's low shot. But Los Al still scored first as freshman Stephanie Mutafyan converted a power-play chance with 3:27 left in the first period.

After the team traded goals in the first, Newport Harbor took its first lead. Carpenter scored on a power-play goal with 3:06 left in the second period to out the Sailors up, 3-2.

In another match:

No. 4 Laguna Beach 9, Montebello 7: Yoshi Andersen scored four goals at the Commerce Aquatorium to lead the Breakers in a matchup of last season's CIF-SS Division II finalists.