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NEWPORT BEACH — Mater Dei’s girls water polo team displayed a trait Saturday at the Bill Barnett Holiday Cup that could help it win bigger matches later in the season.
Perseverance.
The Monarchs overcame a second-half surge by Newport Harbor and the absence of three players due to injury to beat the Sailors 11-10 in the tournament final at Corona del Mar High.
Junior Delaney Hook scored a slick, power-play goal off a hesitation fake and off-speed shot into the cross-cage net with 43 seconds left in the fourth period for an 11-9 advantage and eventual winning goal.
Junior Maggie Ryan, a USC commit along with Hook, paced the Monarchs (9-0) with four goals.
“I’m pretty stoked,” said Mater Dei coach Chris Segesman, whose squad claimed its second consecutive Holiday Cup crown. “I’m pretty excited for the depth and the commitment of the girls in this program, and we’ll get those (injured) girls back.”
“This is just the beginning,” the Olympian added. “You got to win in January and February. We felt last year (losing in the CIF-SS Open Division semifinals).”
Playing without injured seniors Kirra Pantaleon (Stanford) and Penny Mauser (Indiana) and sophomore Eva Johnson, the Monarchs went on a 6-0 run starting early in the second period to open an 8-4 lead by the middle of the third.
Five different players scored in the stretch, including emerging juniors PJ Popejoy and Amie Antonio.
Newport Harbor (10-2) responded with 4-0 surge behind center Gabby Alexson to tie the score 8-8 early in the fourth.
The sophomore, who is committed to USC, beat a near triple-team for her fourth goal with 6:12 left in the fourth to knot the score.
But Mater Dei showed its resiliency with consecutive power-play strikes from Hook and Ryan for a 10-8 lead. Ryan scored on the 6-on-4.
“I think Maggie throws the hardest fastball in high school water polo,” Segesman said, “and Delaney is just a dynamic shooter.”
Sophomore center Paige Segesman drew six exclusions to help spark several power-play chances for Mater Dei. The Monarchs went 6 for 13 with the extra attacker while Newport Harbor finished 3 for 9.
Mater Dei goalie Sienna Sorensen (USC) made nine saves to out-duel former Monarchs keeper Sunny Brown (Indiana), who had seven.
In the semifinals, Mater Dei beat Orange Lutheran 16-13 behind four goals apiece by Ryan and Hook. Allison Cohen netted five for the Lancers.
In the other semifinal, Newport Harbor edged reigning Open Division champion Oaks Christian 9-8 on a penalty shot strike by Sophia Verdugo with one second left. The senior finished with three goals.