Newport Harbor leans on its depth to win S&R Polo Cup

Note: Updated 10-12-2009

IRVINE — Top-ranked Newport Harbor used its depth to capture the S&R Sport Water Polo Cup title Saturday night.

Despite the absence of starting center Matt Russell and second-half foul trouble, the Sailors defeated defending tournament champion Miramonte of Orinda, 9-6, at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center.

Standout freshman Jon Walters played an expanded role at 2 meters in place of Russell, who was sick and missed the two-day tournament. Walters scored twice, including a critical goal in the fourth.

And with high-scoring attacker Blake Kelly out because of three fouls, sophomore Farrel South scored two of his team-high three goals in the final 9:25 to help the Sailors (14-1) capture their first tournament title of the season.

"Our bench really stepped it up," South said. "I was expecting them to be a little hesitant in their play, but they really came alive. Matt Russell, he was with us in our hearts"

Newport Harbor lost Kelly to his third foul with 4:39 left in the third period. The Sailors led, 4-3.

One of the major reasons the score was tight was the play of Miramonte goalie Jon Sibley, the starter for the U.S. junior team. Sibley kept Miramonte (11-1) close by making several spectacular saves.

But South finally gave the Sailors a perimeter strike late in the third and it was a key goal. South threaded a cross-cage shot into the high corner from 7 meters to give the Sailors a 6-4 lead going into the fourth.

Miramonte responded by scoring the first goal of the fourth thanks to an early man-advantage strike by Joey Fabian, who drew the ejection on the counterattack. The active Fabian drew several exclusions.

The Mats seemed motivated to seize a bit of revenge against the only team to beat them last season.

But reserve Kristopher Craib answered with a big goal for Newport Harbor. Craib scored from the wing with 3:45 left to make it 7-5.

The Sailors finished with a flurry. On a power play, South dropped a pass in front of the goal to Walters, who scored with 1:37 left for an 8-5 lead. In the second period, Sibley made a point-blank stop on Walters on a similar shot and even blocked a rebound attempt by Jack Yeager.

South capped the surge with a lob from center with 52 seconds left. He beat a double team before hoisting a shot over the 6-foot-6 Sibley for a 9-5 lead.

"Our coach told us he was going to really step it up this game," South said of Sibley. "Tonight, they really came out for some revenge."

Sibley finished with 12 saves. Newport Harbor netminder Chris Whitelegge was steady with eight saves.

Newport Harbor also showed its depth in the semifinals. After playing to a 3-3 tie against Coronado in the first period, the match was restarted to correct a mistake by Newport Harbor regarding two game misconducts from its quarterfinal match against Long Beach Wilson on Friday.

The Sailors mistakeningly played the first peirod with two starters who received one-game suspensions. But despite being shorthanded in the replay and without Russell, the Sailors defeated Coronado, 10-6.

"A testament to our bench," Newport Harbor coach Jason Lynch said.

In the third-place match:

Corona del Mar 8, Coronado 7: Junior Chase Watson scored from center with 44 seconds left to lift the Sea Kings (12-3). Corona del Mar fell to Miramonte, 8-7, in the semifnals but came back to score the first four goals against the Islanders in the first period. "We wanted to come back and finish strong," said Watson, who scored three goals. Left-hander Max Bergeson also netted three goals for the Sea Kings.

In the semifinals, Corona del Mar trailed, 6-4, going into the fourth period but scored the first three goals of the final frame to take its first lead, 7-6.

The surge featured a skip-shot goal on the perimeter by Bergeson, a goal from center by Watson and a perimeter  strike from 5 meters by Justin Papa. The goal by Papa gave Corona del Mar a 7-6 lead with 3:34 left.

But Miramonte rallied. John Holland tied the score, 7-7, with 1:40 left and Ryan Higgins used a spin move at the end of a counterattack to score the winner with 20 seconds left.

Watson and Bergeson each scored three goals to lead the Sea Kings against Miramonte. Holland fiinished with three, including an excellent redirect slap with in the opening seconds of the second period. Holland scored off a halfcourt pass by Nick Deaver.