Coronado Sinks Sailors in Championship Game

Coronado avenged its only loss of the season in boys’ water polo, defeating Newport Harbor, 12-8, in the championship game of the Tru-West Memorial Cup tournament Saturday at Bellarmine Prep in San Jose.

Thomas Hopkins scored four goals and Jesse Smith three for Coronado (23-1), which never trailed. Newport Harbor beat Coronado, 11-8, in the Southern California Invitational Oct. 7.

Newport Harbor, second ranked in Orange County, was led by Ryan Cook with four goals on five shots and Peter Belden with two goals.

The Sailors (17-4) defeated third-ranked Villa Park, 9-6, in a semifinal. Trailing, 4-3, late in the second quarter, Newport Harbor tied the score, 4-4, before the half and scored five goals in the third quarter to seal the victory.

Villa Park (21-5) was led by Ross Pulver with three goals.

In the third-place game:

Villa Park 13, Corona del Mar 5--Villa Park’s T.J. Matijevich scored 10 goals, four in the first quarter, as the third-ranked Spartans beat top-ranked Corona del Mar (17-4). Michael March and Garrett Bowlus each had three goals for the Sea Kings, who trailed, 7-2, after the first quarter. It was Villa Park’s first victory over Corona del Mar.

In a 12-7 semifinal loss to Coronado, Corona del Mar’s Bowlus and Artie Dorr each scored three goals.