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Los Alamitos’ girls water polo team carried an ambitious defensive strategy into its CIF-SS Open Division first-round match Thursday night.
The Griffins’ desire to advance was even bigger.
Los Alamitos executed its defensive plan against reigning Open Division champion Newport Harbor and added a six-goal run en route to an impressive 11-6 victory at Los Alamitos High that put the Griffins in their first semifinal since 2014.
It was the Griffins’ first playoff victory in a non-consolation round since 2017 and came against an opponent that it dropped two of three matches against earlier this season. Los Alamitos won the Surf League but split matches with Sailors, who also won a tournament showdown in Santa Barbara.
“We knew that if we played our game, we could just push through,” said senior Olivia Slavens, who scored a match-high four goals and added three steals to help lead Los Alamitos. “No one on our team has experienced (this) before, so it feels really good that we all get to experience going to the semifinals together.”
The third-seeded Griffins (22-7) will face No. 2 Orange Lutheran in a semifinal that will be played Wednesday at a site to be announced.
Orange Lutheran edged Mater Dei 11-9 in overtime in a first-round match Thursday.
Los Alamitos advanced behind its defense, which played both zone and press — sometimes on the same possession. Coach Dave Carlson’s squad also effectively fronted center Ryan Chalupnik and used goalie Joey Niz to quadruple cover the junior at one point.
“It’s the reason the girls won the game,” Carlson said of the defense. “When they (Newport Harbor) went to break the zone, we tried to go back into a press as soon as possible, which we didn’t do the last two times we played them.”
Los Alamitos’ defense fueled its counterattack, which sparked a pivotal 6-0 run starting late in the first period. The Griffins recorded enough steals on the perimeter to generate the scoring chances.
Slavens, an uncommitted senior, scored a counterattack goal off her steal with 30 seconds left in the first period to tie the score at 2-2 and ignite a run opened a 7-2 lead early in the third.
Early in the second period, a steal by Olivia Ouellette led to a counterattack strike by Colleen Sorenson. CiCi DeLuca (three goals) followed with another counterattack strike, off a slick turn move, and the Griffins seized control.
Los Alamitos defense, meanwhile, held its Surf League rival scoreless for almost 11 minutes. Every starter had at least one steal, including three by defender Ashley Greger.
“Communication is a really big deal on this team, especially for me as a goalie,” said Niz, who added four steals and 10 saves, including one against a penalty. “My responsibility is make sure everyone knows where the ball is … and listening to Carlson, my coach, about arranging the defense.”
Isabel Valaika added two goals and handled sprinting duties for the Griffins.
Chalupnik scored two of her three goals from center to pace sixth-seeded Newport Harbor (20-8), which played much of the season without injured lefty Avery Montiel. USC-bound goalie Anna Reed, a key member of the Open championship team with Montiel last season, added five saves and a steal.
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In other Open Division games:
Orange Lutheran 11, Mater Dei 9 (OT): Lauren Steele made 19 saves Sara Naulty and Allison Cohen combined for seven goals to lead the Lancers (23-2) at Foothill High. Naulty and Kate Sloman scored the only goals of overtime after regulation ended in a 9-9 deadlock.
Laguna Beach 9, San Marcos 7: Ava Knepper scored three goals, Lauren Schneider added eight saves and the Breakers (19-8) held the Royals to a 3 for 13 effort on the power-play at Sage Hill. The Breakers advance to face top-seeded Foothill, a 6-5 winner against Corona del Mar.