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ORANGE COUNTY PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Lauren Steele, Orange Lutheran, Jr.

Orange Lutheran goalie Lauren Steele never backed down from a challenge during her biggest moments of the girls water polo season.

Penalty shot in league at Mater Dei … block. Late breakaways by Los Alamitos in the CIF-SS Open Division semifinals … block, block. Fast start by Foothill in the final … four blocks in the fourth period.

Yet for all her responses in high-leverage situations, Steele made perhaps her most daring maneuver during her freshman year of high school in Connecticut.

She moved to Southern California, in part, to play a higher level of water polo. She shifted her classes online to 5:30 a.m. and trained at 6-8 Sports’ academy in Fountain Valley.

“Never looked back,” she said.

This winter, Steele helped lead Orange Lutheran to its first Open Division championship. For for efforts, the UCLA committed junior is The Register’s player of the year for 2022-23.

“She was the difference, I think, between us and other teams,” Orange Lutheran coach Brenda Villa said Steele, selected the Open Division player of the year.

“She’s just a student of the game. She knows the shooters. She’s trained a lot. It amazes me that a kid from Connecticut has been able to jam in so much water polo.”

Steele showed major progress in her second season at Orange Lutheran.

The 6-foot goalie led the Lancers (27-3) to two tournament titles and the Trinity League championship during the regular season. They won the Barnett Holiday Cup and Irvine SoCal tournament.

Steele was selected the outstanding goalie at the Irvine SoCal event and MVP of the Trinity League.

She continued her sizzling play in the postseason, recording nine saves in the semifinals and 11 in the finals.

Steele also set a valuable example with her composure and communication with teammates.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Brenda Villa, Orange Lutheran

Orange Lutheran girls water polo coach Brenda Villa shared several lessons from her decorated career with her players but one proved especially valuable.

The four-time Olympian stressed composure in her first season guiding the Lancers, a trait she often displayed on the pool deck with players, officials and opponents.

It was Orange Lutheran’s ability to embrace that lesson that helped it rally from a four-goal deficit in the CIF-SS Open Division final to beat top-seeded Foothill 11-8. And it’s a big reason why Villa is the Register’s Orange County coach of the year.

“Her calming us and reminding us, ‘OK, let’s go back on everything we’ve practiced this whole year’, that really helped us instead of just being mad at us,” Orange Lutheran goalie Lauren Steele said of Villa. “Staying level-headed and knowing, ‘OK, maybe I made a bad play on this play but I’m going to get the next one’ is huge and that’s what really helped us in the finals.”

FIRST TEAM

Lauren Steele, Orange Lutheran, Jr., GK (Player of the year)

Kamryn Barone, Santa Margarita, Sr.

The Stanford signee earned CIF-SS Division 1 player of the year after scoring eight goals, including the winner in sudden-death overtime, against Long Beach Wilson in the final. She finished with 80 goals and 70 steals.

Ryan Chalupnik, Newport Harbor, Jr.

The center drew plenty of double teams but remained a dangerous scorer and led the team in drawn exclusions to help lead the Sailors to the CIF-SS Open Division playoffs.

Allison Cohen, Orange Lutheran, Fr.

The attacker was not only the Lancers’ top perimeter scoring threat but also a gifted passer and defender in their run to the CIF-SS Open Division title.

Rachel Gazzaniga, Foothill, Sr.

The USC-bound utility player and Crestview League MVP dominated at 2 meters and helped power the Knights to the Division 1 CIF Southern California Regional title and a runner-up finish in the CIF-SS Open Division.

Olivia Krotts, Mater Dei, Sr.

The Princeton committed center was a force at 2 meters and helped the Monarchs finish second in the Trinity League and reach the CIF-SS Open Division playoffs.

Olivia Ouellette, Los Alamitos, Sr.

The UCLA commit led the Surf League champion in scoring with 85 goals and also guarded 2-meters for one of the best defensive units in the county.

Charlotte Riches, Laguna Beach, Sr.

The Princeton-committed center scored 57 goals and drew 51 exclusions/penalty shots to help the Breakers reach the CIF-SS Open Division playoffs.

SECOND TEAM

Ava Knepper, Laguna Beach, Jr.

Deirdre Murphy, Foothill, Jr.

Sara Naulty, Orange Lutheran, Sr.

Joey Niz, Los Alamitos, Sr., GK

Anna Reed, Newport Harbor, Sr., GK

Olivia Slavens, Los Alamitos, Sr.

Sofia Umeda, Orange Lutheran, Jr.

THIRD TEAM

Aubrie Anderson, Corona del Mar, Sr.

Sydney Chapman, JSerra, Jr.

Gabby Gaetano, El Toro, Sr.

Natasha Kieckhafer, Santa Margarita, Sr.

Rachel Kirchner, Foothill, Sr., GK

Helene Macbeth, San Clemente, Sr.

Lauren Schneider, Laguna Beach, Sr., GK

FOURTH TEAM

Sophia Bunnell, Santa Margarita, Jr., GK

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