Effort pays off for No. 1 Corona del Mar

Corona del Mar girls water polo coach Aaron Chaney saw enough effort from his team Friday that had it lost late to Laguna Beach, the result wouldn't have bothered him.

But the No. 1 Sea Kings matched their inspired play with a dramatic victory.

Attacker Heather Van Hiel scored from the perimeter with 1:10 left in the first sudden-death period to lift host Corona del Mar past No. 4 Laguna Beach, 9-8, in a duel between the top-ranked teams in Division I and II.

“Win or lose this game, I was just happy with the way my girls played,” Chaney said. “The effort and intensity on defense. … The movement, the awareness, the attack on offense.”

On the final possession, Van Hiel led her second consecutive counterattack, but the Breakers (24-4) covered up. Positioned on the wing, Van Hiel said she was looking to pass when she saw goalie Etianne Manetta's hands drop. The sophomore had made a spectacular save on the UCLA-bound Van Hiel on the previous counter but Van Hiel scored the winner cross cage.

The goal capped a rally by Corona del Mar (26-1), ranked No. 1 in Division I. Laguna Beach took a 7-6 lead into the final 30 seconds of regulation but Elise Molnar scored on a foul outside 5 meters with 22 seconds left to force overtime.

The Breakers kept the pressure on as Annika Dries fouled out Molnar late in first three-minute overtime.

Laguna Beach then took the lead as lefty Lexie Ross scored on a shot that deflected off the cage and goalie Kate Baldoni with 2:42 left in the second three-minute overtime.

But on Corona del Mar's ensuing possession, Victoria Kennedy drew an exclusion at center and scored on a quick pass from Margot Money to knot the score, 8-8.

“I think we all really, really wanted to win,” Van Hiel said. “We just kept fighting.”

Kennedy and Molnar each finished with three goals. Baldoni had 19 saves in one of her best efforts of the season.

“I think we did play better than we did versus Dos Pueblos (in the finals of the Irvine Southern California Championships),” Van Hiel said.

Laguna Beach lost in sudden-death for the second-time in a week. The Breakers also fell to Newport Harbor, 10-9, in a well-played quarterfinal match at the Irvine tournament. But Laguna Beach, ranked No. 1 in Division II, remained upbeat.

“I’m happy to see a Laguna Beach team play at the same speed as CdM and  Newport,” Laguna Beach coach Ethan Damato said.

Ross, Annika Dries and Jessie Holechek each scored twice for Laguna Beach.

In the Freeway League:

Fullerton 10, Troy 9 (OT): Freshman Molli Daves scored a go-ahead goal in overtime to help the host Indians capture the playoff match for fourth place and become eligible for the postseason.

In the Empire League:

Kennedy 7, Cypress 5:Jennifer Crotteau scored on the power play with about 1:40 left to help the host Fighting Irish capture the playoff match for third place and qualify for CIF for the first time.

Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com