Newport Harbor rallies to claim Division I title (with video)

IRVINE Newport Harbor's prospects didn't appear encouraging after three periods Saturday night.

The Sailors had just fallen behind three goals to Back Bay rival Corona del Mar in the CIF-SS Division I girls water polo final.

Newport Harbor also lost Mimi Bury to fouls early in the third and faced the challenge of rallying against goalie Kate Baldoni, one of the best in the Southern Section.

But between periods, the Sailors got one of the sparks they needed.

Newport Harbor coach Bill Barnett picked up a yellow card for arguing Bury's final exclusion.

“We were getting pumped up from Coach B yelling at the officials,” Newport Harbor junior Nina McCall said. “That's when we knew things were going to flow our way.”

Newport Harbor funneled Barnett's intensity into its press defense, forced overtime and went onto to post a 6-5 victory in front of a thoroughly entertained gathering of 2,000 at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center.

McCall scored the winner in the second three-minute overtime, pushing in a rebound with 52 seconds left after a hard shot off the cross bar by Kimmy Morrison. Newport Harbor (29-3) then used a final steal by Amanda Simons to seal their fourth section title.

“We just wanted it so much,” McCall said. McCall's rebound goal came after she had two excellent shots in the first overtime bounce off posts.

McCall also had a good counterattack chance blocked by Baldoni late in the first extra period. Baldoni also stopped Erin Reid on a counter and ended the first overtime having a strong shot from midpool bounce off the crossbar.

“One of the most exciting games I've ever been part of — ever,” said Barnett, the two-time U.S. Olympic men's coach.

Newport Harbor rallied in the fourth behind its defense. The top-seeded Sailors blanked No. 2 Corona del Mar (24-7) in the period, 3-0.

“I think the intensity in the fourth period was incredible,” Barnett said of his team's defense.

Newport Harbor's first two goals of the period came from reserves Morrison and Erin Reid. Sophomore Kaleigh Gilchrist forced overtime by drilling a shot from 10 meters in off a side post with 36 seconds left in the fourth.

“That shot by Gilchrist was unbelievable,” Corona del Mar coach Aaron Chaney said.

Chaney said his squad became tentative in the fourth.

“Part of it is that they've never been up on Newport by three goals in the fourth,” Chaney said. “But Newport isn't going to back down.”

Bury fouled out with 4:51 left in the third during a brief stoppage. Barnett said the official told him that Bury “put the ball in the goalie's face.” The incident happened as play was about to resume.

Corona del Mar led, 3-2, at the time. But after Newport Harbor goalie Morgan Vickers' blocked a penalty shot with about 4:30 left in the third, the Sea Kings answered with two more goals.

Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com