Santa Barbara Advances in Tournament

Santa Barbara remained unbeaten with a 6-3 victory over Irvine in the quarterfinals of the Irvine Southern California Championships girls’ water polo tournament Friday at Irvine High. But the final score was a little misleading.

Irvine (15-5) made Santa Barbara (21-0) sweat out a close game for 3 1/2 quarters, and the Vaqueros even led at halftime, 2-1, by holding the Dons to the first of Lindsay Harris’ two goals.

Santa Barbara, which advanced to today’s semifinals against Marina, scored three goals in the third quarter to take the lead. But Irvine had a chance to tie after gaining a six-on-five opportunity 1 1/2 minutes into the fourth quarter.

However, Jamie Pack’s shot sailed high, and Santa Barbara’s counter-attack ended with Thalia Munro scoring on a lob to make it 5-3 with 4 minutes 8 seconds remaining.

“It was the right shot aimed at the right spot,” Irvine Coach Scott Hinman said. “It just went a little high. They just wore us down. They have a relentless counter-attack.”

Munro’s goal put Santa Barbara in control, but her defense was equally instrumental in the victory, Santa Barbara Coach Mark Walsh said. Munro held Irvine’s high-scoring two-meter player Erin Lezak to one goal.

Irvine’s Nicole Huszcz scored off a rebound with 45 seconds remaining in the third quarter to tie it, 3-3. But Santa Barbara’s Clare Nisbet scored with two seconds remaining in the quarter to convert a six-on-five and make it 4-3.