There’s no time for warm-up matches out at Elings Aquatic Center.
The visiting Corona del Mar Sea Queens prevailed 10-8 over Dos Pueblos in a matchup of what many have called the top two teams in CIF Division I girls water polo. It was the first game of the season for both teams.
“I think this was good because we learned from our mistakes, and I think it’ll be nice to play them again further down the road when we’re really rolling,” said DP’s star goalie, Sami Hill. “Hopefully we can get ’em.”
They will certainly see each other again, perhaps on numerous occasions — in the elite tournaments that lay ahead and very possibly in the playoffs. With five Division I college recruits on the CDM side, DP’s group of young phenoms have something to measure themselves against.
CDM goalie Kate Baldoni is headed to Stanford next year but first will travel up north with Hill and DP’s Kiley Nueshul. The trio was set to grab an 8:30 a.m. flight to northern California Saturday to train with the Junior National Team.
The Sea Queens had a 4-3 lead at halftime and pulled away in the third, going up 8-5 on a goal in the waning seconds. Dos Pueblos made a surge with three goals in the fourth, but came up just short.
Nueshul and Tiera Schroder each grabbed hat tricks for the hosts and Hill had eight saves, including a couple that smacked her right in the face.
CDM coach Aaron Chaney, a former star at UCSB now enshrined in the Phil Womble Hall of Fame, said the win was huge for his team.
“Up here against them, definitely. They’re a heck of a good team and they’re young, so they’re going to be around for awhile,” he said.
Charger coach Danelle Little had no regrets about scheduling such a tough opponent in the season’s first match.
“It was a really, really good learning lesson for us. The girls started the game with intensity and finished the game with intensity,” she said. “We definitely made some defensive mistakes during the game and they took advantage… I have no problem being on the underdog side of things right now and overall I was happy we how we played. We know what we have to work on.”
The Sea Queens head across town to face Santa Barbara at 11 a.m. Saturday, while DP hosts Santa Margarita simultaneously.
CORONA DEL MAR 10, DOS PUEBLOS 8
Corona del Mar…..2 2 4 2 — 10
Dos Pueblos……….1 2 2 3 — 8
Goals—CDM: Berry 2, Van Hiel 3, Molnar 1, Kennedy 4.
DP: Schroeder 3, RHill 1, AHill 1, Nueshul 3.
Goalie Saves—CDM: Baldoni 13; DP: SHill 8.
