Corona del Mar recovers quickly (with audio)

It didn't take long for Corona del Mar's top-ranked girls water polo team to recover from its first loss.

After falling to Dos Pueblos in the semifinals of the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions on Saturday, Corona del Mar handled Back Bay rival Newport Harbor, 8-3, in the third-place match.

“We came out with a lot of fury against Newport,” senior center Victoria Kennedy said. “The loss to Dos Pueblos was the first loss of our season, but it's better we've gotten it over with now than having it occur in CIF.”

Corona del Mar coach Aaron Chaney also took a long view of the 6-4 loss against Dos Pueblos, which won the tournament.

“We have a lot of water polo to go,” he said. “A loss now doesn't matter.”

Corona del Mar (15-1) improved to 3-0 against Newport Harbor. - DAN ALBANO

WRESTLING: LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR CALVARY CHAPEL

Calvary Chapel wrestling coach Arsen Aleksanyan got a good look this past weekend at what it's going to take for his team to win a state title.

Aleksanyan had four wrestlers place in the top eight of their weight classes at the Five Counties Invitational, including champion Morgan McIntosh at 171 pounds.

Calvary Chapel finished fourth as a team with 117.5 points, its highest finish since 2003 when it was third.

But there is room for improvement.

“I thought at 112s, we could have done a lot better, and at 119s … I thought those were two spots where we could have placed,” Aleksanyan said.

Calvary Chapel finished 44.5 points behind champion Poway. - DAMIAN CALHOUN

BOYS SOCCER: OCEGUEDA CHASING THE DREAM

Juan Pablo Ocegueda, a midfielder on Saddleback's boys soccer team, has left the squad to play in the development league for the Tigres professional team based in Monterrey, Mexico.

Ocegueda made the decision not long after he helped the then-No. 1 Roadrunners win the Trabuco Hills Tournament.

“He is a great player and, of course, we are going to miss him,” Saddleback coach Mel Silva said. “But how can you tell a kid to stay. … He's dreaming of playing in Azteca Stadium.” - DAMIAN DOTTORE

GIRLS SOCCER: INJURY HITS MATER DEI

Mater Dei senior midfielder Mary-Grace Schmidt, a second-team All-County girls soccer selection last season, will be out for at least two weeks because of a strained hamstring.

The injury occurred in the first half of Mater Dei's 1-0 victory against Santa Margarita.

Monarchs coach Matty West is hoping Schmidt will return in time for the Monarchs' regular-season finale against Santa Margarita on Feb. 3.

JASON EICHELBERGER

Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com