DP shuts down Edison, advances to semifinals

Once the Dos Pueblos girls water polo team settled down in the charged atmosphere of a quarterfinal playoff game, it was business as usual.

The defending champion Chargers clamped down on defense and used its lethal transition game to pull away from pesky Edison 12-8 Friday in a CIF Division 1 quarterfinal game at Ocean View High in Huntington Beach.

It was DP’s 29th straight win this season, and extended the Chargers’ winning streak to 65 games. They are seeking their fourth straight CIF title.

“We were up 3-1 in the first quarter and created a lot of opportunities,” DP coach Chris Parrish said. “We had 10 shots on goals and we capitalized on only three shots. We opened it up in the next quarter.”

DP took off in the second period, scoring five goals to build an 8-3 lead. The Chargers expanded their advantage to 11-4 after three quarter, and Parrish cleared his bench in the final stanza.

“They played great defense,” Parrish said of his players. “Edison has some great players and good scorers. To hold them to four goals in three periods, it’s pretty good.”

On the early misfires, “I think the girls had a lot of adrenaline,” Parrish said. “There was a lot of electricity in the air. We had a lot of good chances; it was like missing layups.”

Jamie Neushul led the way for DP with four goals, while Kodi Hill added three and Tiera Schroeder two.

The Chargers will face Laguna Beach in the semifinals on Wednesday in Irvine. Laguna Beach knocked off Newport Harbor on Friday.

DP has beaten the Breakers twice this season: 10-8 at home and 13-6 in the final of the Irvine Southern California Championship,