Los Alamitos’ girls water polo team put its foot down in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s CIF Division 1 quarterfinal, breaking free of a tie game to defeat San Marcos 10-7.
Los Alamitos earns a trip to the CIF semifinals at William Woollett Aquatics Center next Wednesday. The Griffins will meet No. 1 Laguna Beach.
The fourth-seeded Royals and the fifth-seeded Griffins were locked in a 6-6 stalemate at the end of the third quarter. The Royals were hampered by foul trouble, losing senior leader Hailie Johnson in the third quarter.
It all caught up with the Royals in the final period as Los Alamitos outscored San Marcos 4-1.
Megan Bergthold and Johnson had two goals each, with Hailey Gellert, Brittany Prentice, and Kate Coski added one each. Jenna Phreaner blocked 13 shots.
The Royals, co-champions of the Channel League, finish their season with a 21-8 record.
