VIDEO OF FINAL PLAY OF REGULATION
A split-second separated Dos Pueblos’ girls water polo team from an upset of top-ranked Corona del Mar on Saturday. But Kodi Hill’s game-winning goal at the end of regulation came just after the buzzer sounded and Corona del Mar went on to win in overtime 9-6.
The Dos Pueblos players and fans started celebrating like crazy after Hill’s shot because one of of the referees signaled for a goal. It was then quickly ruled that the goal would not be allowed for coming too late.
Dos Pueblos' Kodi Hill, left, and Pipa Saunders reach for control in front of the Charger net on Saturday.
“He called it a goal and so we were all celebrating. And then it’s like, he recalled it. Your heart kind of sinks,” Hill said.
“I’m really proud of everyone but it’s a tough way to lose.
But I respect Corona del Mar. They’re a really good team.”
Genevieve Weed led all scorers with four goals and Cassidy Papa added two – including the game-winner in the first overtime – for the Sea Queens.
The Corona del Mar bench celebrates a goal in the overtime period.
Hill recorded a team-high three for Dos Pueblos. Jamie Neushul added two and Shannon Cleary one.
The Chargers tied the game 6-6 in the fourth quarter after trailing 5-2 at halftime.
Emotionally and physically spent after regulation, Dos Pueblos allowed three goals in the two overtime periods to end the Chargers’ season.
“I can’t tell you how proud I am of the girls,” said Chargers head coach Chris Parrish. “They’re outgunned, outmatched, they’re outsized. They shouldn’t have been in the game, quite frankly.
“It really was the experience of the girls and the heart of the rest of the team that kept them in it.”
Parrish submitted a written protest to the officiating crew after the game. He argued that the officials had not properly called the final play of regulation dead and that Hill’s goal should have been allowed.
The Corona del Mar players waited on the pool deck for a half an hour after the end of the game until getting word that the result was official.
“I think we got lucky, we got really lucky,” said Corona del Mar head coach Sam Bailey. “That’s a really strong team. Obviously showed a lot of heart. They showed the talent the got.”
The Sea Queens advance to a Division 1 semifinal full of the top four seeds. CDM will face Foothill on Wednesday with Laguna Beach and Newport Harbor meeting in the other semi.
It was Dos Pueblos’ first CIF postseason loss since 2007. The Chargers had won the last three Division 1 crowns and the seniors had never tasted CIF playoff defeat.
“I’ve been in a lot of those down-to-the-wire games but normally in high school the past couple of years we’ve been winning them,” Hill said. “It sucks to be on this side of it.”
The Chargers took a hit in the second quarter when starter Shannon Cleary fouled out. Cleary scored seven goals for DP in their playoff opener.
“Jordan Williams came off the bench and played an exceptional game for the last 2 and a half quarters,” Parrish noted.
The Chargers defense shut out the Sea Queens in the third quarter and Hill trimmed the lead to 5-3 on a late goal on an assist from Neushul.
At the beginning of the final period, Neushul drew an ejection but DP’s shot bounced off the goalpost. On the Chargers’ next possession, Neushul drew a five-meter shot on a counter-attack that she converted herself.
Neushul scored on another counter on an assist from goalkeeper Britten Vilander to tie the game at 6-6 with 2:44 on the clock. Before Hill’s disallowed goal at the buzzer, Vilander blocked three shots in the final 2:30 to preserve the tie.
CORONA DEL MAR 9, DOS PUEBLOS 6
CDM – McCormick, Murphy, Hoose, Weed 4, Papa 2
DP – Hill 3, Cleary 1, Neushul 2.
Corona del Mar 3 2 0 1 (1) (2) – 9
Dos Pueblos 1 1 1 3 (0) (0) – 6
