Dos Pueblos may be one of the best girls water polo teams in the country, but second place was just fine this weekend at the SoCal Championships.
The top-ranked Chargers defeated Newport Harbor 9-7 in Saturday’s semifinals before dropping an 8-7 decision against Corona del Mar in the championship match — all without the services of injured star Sami Hill in goal.
“I was very impressed with our defense, because we had to change it due to not having Sami. To play close with Corona del Mar like that without her was really good for us,” said coach Danelle Little.
Kiley Neushul scored four goals against Newport and three against the Sea Queens en route to being named the tournament’s top field player. Jessica Morelos, who had seven saves in each game while replacing Hill, made the all-tournament team along with Alex Hill, who had four goals on Saturday.
Amanda Redfern and Tiera Schroeder each had four assists and a pair of steals in the opening game.
DP plays at Santa Barbara on Thursday to close out the regular season.
DOS PUEBLOS 9, NEWPORT HARBOR 7
Dos Pueblos…1 3 3 2 — 9
Newport Harbor….2 1 4 0 — 7
DP goals — Neushul 4, AHill 3, KHill 2.
DP saves — NMorelos 7.
CORONA DEL MAR 8, DOS PUEBLOS 7
Dos Pueblos….2 1 2 2 — 7
CDM…………..2 2 3 1 — 8
DP goals — Neushul 3, Schroeder 2, AHill 1, JMorelos 1.
DP saves — NMorelos 7.
