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Newport Harbor’s boys water polo team tightened the grip on its Back Bay rivalry with Corona del Mar by collecting a 16-9 victory Wednesday in the Sunset League.

In posting a 16th consecutive win in the long-running Battle of the Bay series, the top-ranked Sailors (13-0, 4-0) received four goals from Kai Kaneko and Lucca Van Der Woude and three apiece from Connor Ohl and Geoffrey Slutzky.

Slutzky, an emerging junior center, drew five exclusions and two penalties while left-hander Mason Netzer added four assists.

USC committed goalie Luke Harris and Ohl helped lead the defense with 10 saves and five steals, respectively.

Jackson Harlan, a UC Santa Barbara commit, scored six goals to pace Corona del Mar (12-4, 2-1).

Newport Harbor leads the all-times series 53-42. The rivalry started Sept. 30, 1964.

Corona del Mar last won in 2016.

In the Trinity League:

Mater Dei 10, Santa Margarita 9: The visiting Monarchs (11-4, 1-0) edged the Eagles (9-5, 0-1) in the teams’ league opener.

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