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NEWPORT BEACH — Los Alamitos’ girls water polo team believes that if it competes well in the Surf League, contending for a spot in the CIF-SS Open Division final next month is not out of the realm of possibility.

It’s a well-crafted conviction.

The league has a history of title runs, and the Griffins are tied for third in Division 1 rankings this week behind Surf rivals Newport Harbor and Laguna Beach.

“That’s the goal,” Los Alamitos senior Shanna Davidson said of reaching the final.

The Griffins added more depth to their argument Tuesday night, holding off improving Corona del Mar 11-10 despite playing without Coach Dave Carlson (non-COVID-19 illness) and primary center Lindsey Harris (protocols).

Davidson assisted the go-ahead and eventual winning goals in the fourth period and finished with six of her own to lead Los Alamitos (13-3, 2-1), which faces No. 1 Newport Harbor (13-1, 4-0) on Thursday.

The Princeton-bound Davidson fed Ashley Greger for the go-ahead strike on the power-play with 3:07 left in the fourth and assisted Sydney Munatones’ power-play goal about two minutes later to extend the Griffins’ lead to 11-9.

Jillian Schlom responded with an extra-man goal with 38 seconds left in regulation to draw Corona del Mar (8-8, 0-4) within one but the Griffins’ Colleen Sorenson sealed the victory with a steal in the final seconds.

“They really brought it,” Davidson said of Corona del Mar, who the Griffins handled 12-4 in the first round of league. “They came out really hard tonight and played a really good game.”

Corona del Mar, ranked eighth in Division 1, led twice in the first half and recovered from two-goal deficits twice in the second half.

Santa Barbara-bound center Mia Bernhoit scored four goals and drew two penalties to lead the Sea Kings. Freshman left-hander Didi Evans added three goals, including a counterattack strike in the fourth that tied the score 9-9 with 3:50 left in the fourth.

Olivia Slavens added two goals for Los Alamitos, including a lob from about 8 meters that bounced in off the post to beat the third-period buzzer. Goalie Joey Niz made seven saves and helped fuel the counterattack with her outlet passes.

Los Alamitos lost Laguna Beach 12-11 last week but Davidson said the loss served as a confidence booster for the Griffins.

“All the girls really fought hard,” she said. “We have a pretty big senior class and a pretty big junior class, and we’re all just really going out there and doing our best.”

In another Surf League game:

Newport Harbor 15, Laguna Beach 8: Bia Mantellato scored five goals and Morgan Netherton and Taylor Smith added four and three, respectively, to lead the first-place Sailors past the Breakers (13-3, 1-2)

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