Girls’ water polo: Corona del Mar playing like it owns the water

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What’s the best girls’ water polo team in the Southland? Right now, it would be hard to bet against Corona del Mar.

In the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions final, CdM came from three goals down at halftime to beat rival Newport Harbor in overtime, 6-5, as Victoria Kennedy scored three goals.

The Sea Kings (Queens?) also trailed by three goals against Laguna Beach in the semifinals before posting a 6-5 victory. So it’s apparent that you’ve got to play the full four quarters -- and sometimes more -- to beat them.

In four tournament games, CdM allowed only three second-half goals, and goalkeeper Kate Baldoni was named the tournament’s MVP.

Newport Harbor, which had beaten CdM the first two times they played, was No. 1 in the Southern Section Division I poll, while CdM was No. 2.

Then on Saturday, seven days after the victory over Newport Harbor, CdM did it again. Tied at halftime, it shut out No. 3 Foothill in the second half to post a 5-3 nonleague victory. CdM had lost to Foothill last month in overtime.

My guess is these teams, in some combination, will meet again in the playoffs. There’s no guarantee that CdM will win then, but right now, CdM can claim it’s No. 1 ... and mean it.

-- Martin Henderson

-- Image from www.cdmpolo.com