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IRVINE — Foothill’s girls water polo players climbed from the pool after the final buzzer Wednesday and their joy soon overflowed. They jumped, hugged and cheered with each other and coach Paden Mitchell.
The playoff division didn’t matter.
The Knights’ play and destination did.
Foothill used sharp perimeter shooting and focused defense to beat Beckman 10-6 in the CIF-SS Division 1 semifinals at Woollett Aquatics Center.
The Knights (19-11) advanced to Saturday’s final at Mt. SAC to continue their first postseason not competing in the section’s highest division.
“We’re just here to play good water polo (and) be a good team,” said Mitchell, who guided the Knights to their first final since 2023 in the Open Division. “Whatever division we’re in is what we’re going to go compete for.”
“I don’t think it matters who we’re playing or where we’re playing, it’s just about playing the game the right way,” the seventh-year coach added. “Being a Knight, bleeding black and gold.”
In the finals, Foothill will play San Clemente, which beat Agoura 13-9 in the other semifinal.
Foothill senior attacker Ava Rowe set the tone for the perimeter shooting by netting two of her match-high four goals in the first period.
Senior Victoria Cordero, one of Foothill’s two left-handers, had three goals. The USC committed attacker scored twice in the final 2 1/2 minutes of the first half as the Knights opened a 6-3 lead.
Michaela Murphy and Gianna Romero had the assists.
Rowe capped the third quarter with a steal and counterattack strike off a ball-side drive to push the lead to 9-5.
“We were ready for them,” said Beckman coach Duje Grubisic, whose team lost to Foothill 9-8 earlier in the season. “We kind of knew where they were going to shoot. We tried to adjust our shot blocking on that but they did place the ball really well.”
Foothill senior goalie Emma Perrigo anchored the defense with 10 saves and three steals.
The Knights blanked the duo of center Brooke Knisely and Natalie Arata.
Beckman goalie Allyson Lu had 10 saves and two steals. Hana and Emma Simampo each scored twice for the Patriots, who reached their first Division 1 semifinal.
More results to come.