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SANTA ANA — The CIF Southern California Regional can be tricky for water polo teams that focus year-round on capturing a CIF-SS championship.
Where will the motivation come from when that pursuit ends? And is the regional enticing without a state tournament?
Mater Dei’s chase of its first girls section championship concluded with a loss in the Open Division final but the Monarchs found the determination Thursday to advance to yet another championship match.
Pushed by senior pride, a desire for a regional crown and local bragging rights, Mater Dei defeated visiting Newport Harbor 9-7 in the semifinals of the Division I regional.
Goalie Sienna Sorensen made 15 saves and attacker Kirra Pantaleon scored seven goals for Mater Dei (30-3), which finished as the CIF-SS Open Division runner-up to Oaks Christian.
In the regional final Saturday, Mater Dei will play San Marcos at Long Beach City College at 2 p.m. San Marcos edged Oaks Christian 11-10 in the other semifinal.
“We all really wanted to win today and make it to the (regional) final,” said Pantaleon, who made all three of her penalty shots and collected three steals. “It was definitely hard losing CIF, especially with (several) seniors. … but we battled.”
Sorensen and Pantaleon, both seniors, delivered strong performances in the final match in their home pool.
Sorensen, a USC commit, opened the fourth period by blocking a counterattack shot by Newport Harbor to preserve a 5-4 lead. The Monarchs capitalized on the ensuing possession as Paige Segesman drew an exclusion at center that led to a power-play strike by Maggie Ryan.
Mater Dei’s first and only goal with the extra defender opened a 6-4 lead with 6:08 remaining.
Sorensen racked up six saves in the fourth period, including one against a shot from center on a 7-on-6 chance by Newport Harbor (27-5).
Pantaleon, a Stanford commit, scored three goals in the final 5:33 of the fourth, including a penalty drawn by senior Penny Mauser.
Mauser, an Indiana commit, had a goal and an assist.
Mater Dei reached the final of all four of its tournaments during the regular season. The Monarchs also won all their tournaments in 2024-25.
“We never won CIF,” Sorensen said, “but we won so many tournaments that past teams haven’t done at Mater Dei. I think we really had a good run, with our senior group, too.”
Mater Dei coach Chris Segesman received a red card late in the third period but was hopeful about coaching on Saturday.
“That’s my fault but it’s an intense game,” said the Olympian, “and I love coaching against (Newport Harbor coach) Ross (Sinclair).”
“I just thought it was going to be a pretty mellow game,” the coach added, “and then the intensity of the game between two really good teams sky-rocketed. It was a really physical game.”
In winning the season series against Newport Harbor 2-1, Mater Dei went 1 for 7 on the power play. Newport Harbor, No. 1 in the final O.C. rankings, finished 4 for 11 with the extra attacker.
Junior Kennedy Fahey scored three goals for the Sailors while junior Emerson Mulvey added two goals. Junior center Gabby Alexson drew several exclusions to fuel to the power play.
CIF-SS Division 1 champion Foothill opted out of the regional.