WALNUT — Newport Harbor’s girls water polo team entered the CIF-SS Open Division final on Saturday with plenty of momentum. But in a postseason marked by surprising results, a current carrying the unexpected seemingly lurked deep in the pool at Mt. SAC.
Oaks Christian and its 2-meter defense jumped on the stream and sprinted to a historic victory.
The fourth-seeded Lions capped a stunning surge the past two weeks by putting the clamps on the vaunted center attack of No. 3 Newport Harbor en route to a 7-5 victory.
Playing a heavy drop defense at center, Oaks Christian (22-7) and coach Jack Kocur became the first non-Orange County team — boys or girls — to win the Open Division crown. The premier division debuted in the 2021-22 school year.
“Five goals, guys. Five goals,” Kocur said of the Lions, who held Newport Harbor to a season-low scoring output. “Five goals. Unbelievable.”
“What’s their strength?” the coach added of Newport Harbor. “Their strength is No. 14 (Gabby Alexson). Their center game. Their strong center game. They’re so disciplined in their front-court offense. (Newport Harbor) is a phenomenal team, program, the history. They are the Lakers. They are the Boston Celtics of our sport, at least in our eyes.”
Oaks Christian, which upset No. 1 Mater Dei in overtime in the semifinals, sometimes surrounded Alexson with three defenders and forced the Sailors to attempt to beat goalie Alexandra Stoddard from the perimeter.
Newport Harbor (24-6), which stunned two-time defending Open champion Orange Lutheran in double sudden-death overtime in the semifinals, scored four goals from the perimeter but it wasn’t enough. The Sailors netted one strike from center, and it came on a counterattack.
Newport Harbor coach Ross Sinclair, whose team beat Oaks Christian twice in three regular-season matches, said he wasn’t surprised by Oaks Christian’s defensive strategy.
“We just didn’t execute,” he said. “Didn’t follow the game plan unfortunately. It’s frustrating. We got to push the ball down line, and we didn’t. Our transition, we’re pulling up at half.”
“I just don’t think we came out with any urgency,” added Sinclair, who guided the Newport Harbor boys to the Open Division title in the fall. “Oaks came out and played really hard from the get-go. We were very reactionary and hesitant.”
Newport Harbor’s offensive production was a striking contrast to the semifinals. Alexson dominated at center with three goals, including the winner, and drew numerous exclusions.
Stoddard, a junior, proved difficult to beat from the perimeter with 11 saves.
She forecasted a strong match by blocking a penalty shot in second period. In the semifinals, she blocked two penalties against Mater Dei, including one to seal the win.
Oaks Christian’s biggest defensive stand came leading 6-5 in the fourth period and Newport Harbor on the power play coming out of a timeout with 3:06 left.
Stoddard made the save and the Lions capitalized with a perimeter strike by sophomore Makena Bygrave that blasted in off the far post with 2:12 remaining.
Oaks Christian’s defense held Newport Harbor scoreless for almost 13 minutes during one stretch and 0 for 4 on the power play.
The Lions went 4 for 9 with extra attacker and didn’t trail for the final three periods.
Left-hander Mia Fabros paced Oaks Christian with three goals. Nicole O’Neill added two.
Sophomore attacker Madison Mack scored three perimeter strikes to pace Newport Harbor.