Newport Harbor boys’ water polo, girls’ flag football earn wins over CdM

It was the first time in five years that the Sailors had suffered consecutive losses.

The next game on the schedule was Wednesday’s Battle of the Bay clash at rival Corona del Mar. It was time to end that short streak.

“You learn a lot from your losses,” Sailors coach Ross Sinclair said. “I think this was a great response. We lost two games, so to come in and play a rivalry game and try to halt that little losing streak, I think it’s a testament to these guys and our culture that they believe in.”

Owen Marks, Davis Kipp and Cooper Kelly all added two goals for Newport Harbor (13-3), which has owned the rivalry in recent years. The Sailors have won 22 straight matches against Corona del Mar since 2016, and lead the matchup 59-42 overall.

Corona del Mar star Will Weir (11) shoots in a goal against Newport Harbor on Wednesday. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) “Ten years is a long time,” Marks said. “That kind of puts more pressure on us, but I think we’re really able to just ignore that pressure, focus on the game and play.”

That’s what Marks did, even after he was excluded twice in the opening frame. His backhand goal at the first-quarter buzzer gave Newport Harbor a 4-3 lead.

“Obviously, getting those two early exclusions was not ideal,” said Marks, who drew five exclusions himself at center. “I felt like I let the team down. I just knew that when I get the chance to go in, I have to give it my all, do whatever it takes to contribute to the team.”

Newport Harbor’s Owen Marks (5) is all smiles after scoring against Corona del Mar on Wednesday. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) Sean Anderson, Henry Tatum and Brener Dawson all added a goal each for the Sailors. Senior goalkeeper Lian Kim also played well, with 10 saves.

Kim, a UC Santa Barbara commit, made five of those saves in the third quarter, when the Sailors extended a two-goal halftime lead to a 10-6 advantage.

“As the game went on, we adjusted,” said Kelly, who added team-best totals of four assists and three steals. “We knew who their guys are, who to get out to quicker, where to zone from. I think a big part of our offense and defense is just weathering the storm. Teams come out hot, but if you just keep on keeping on, then good things happen.”

Newport Harbor goalie Lian Kim (1) stops a shot at close range from CdM’s Will Weir (11) during Wednesday’s match. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) Corona del Mar (12-9, 5-1), which suffered its first league loss, got four goals from Cal committed senior Will Weir. Brody Rauth, Hudson Castillo, Jack Jacobson and Drew Johnson added one goal each, with goalkeeper Colton Kozlowski making seven saves.

CdM coach Lucas Reynolds said he is happy with the progress of the Sea Kings, who have been without the services of UC Irvine-committed senior standout Koosha Mirrafati (shoulder) this season. In its first game of the Elite 8, CdM led early in the fourth quarter against Newport Harbor before succumbing 13-10.

CdM flew up to the Bay Area on Thursday to compete in this weekend’s Bellarmine Memorial Cup.

Corona del Mar goalie Colton Kozlowski (1) makes a save during the Battle of the Bay game on Wednesday. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) “I think from the beginning of the season to where we are now, we’ve improved dramatically,” Reynolds said. “We still have a couple of weeks left before playoffs, and I think going up north is going to be another big step for us. We’ve shown that we can play with anyone … the reality is, we’ve got to start putting together a complete game.”

Newport Harbor, which has won the last two CIF Southern Section Open Division titles but graduated 14 seniors from last year’s team, also continues to build for the postseason. The Sailors showed potential in winning the South Coast Tournament earlier this season.

Newport Harbor also nearly rallied past JSerra last weekend in the Elite 8 semifinals, after falling behind 5-0 early in the second quarter.

Newport Harbor starters exit the pool victorious against Corona del Mar on Wednesday. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) Tatum, a freshman, scored four goals in that contest to fuel the comeback, and sophomore Curren Francisco added three goals.

“Obviously, it wasn’t the outcome we wanted, but I think we did show a lot of heart in the JSerra game especially,” Marks said. “We showed a lot of good things, and a lot of things that I think we need to improve on coming into playoffs … It’s a new roster, but it’s still Newport at the end of the day.”

The Newport Harbor High girls’ flag football team celebrates after a 38-7 win over CdM on Wednesday night. (Matt Szabo) Newport girls’ flag football also wins BattleAcross the bay, the Newport Harbor girls’ flag football team also earned a big Battle of the Bay win over rival CdM on Wednesday night.

Coach Jason Guyser called it his team’s best game of the season so far, as the Sailors won 38-7 in the Sunset League game.

Newport Harbor junior quarterback Scarlett Guyser rushed for two scores and also threw a pair of touchdown passes, to Skylie Cid and Blakely Irvine. Guyser’s second rushing touchdown was highlight reel worthy, as she dodged several flag pulls on the 19-yard scamper.

Cid added a rushing touchdown and the Sailors also got everyone in late, when senior quarterback Ally Shaw found freshman Jordan Sanders on a long touchdown.

Newport Harbor quarterback Scarlett Guyser (9), shown against Edison earlier this season, had two passing and two rushing touchdowns on Wednesday night. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) The Sailors improved to 10-0 all-time against CdM, and have never conceded more than one touchdown.

“[Defense] is what we hang our hat on,” Jason Guyser said. “Defensively, if you look at our points allowed in Sunset League, there’s no one even close. Offensively, sometimes we struggle, we can be up and down. But defensively, we’re pretty darn good.”

Newport Harbor is now 19-4 overall, and 9-2 in league with one game remaining. The Sailors play at Huntington Beach (10-1 in league) on Monday night, and can earn a share of the league title with a victory.

Sanders had a pair of quarterback sacks on Wednesday, with senior Aliyah Chappell adding a key sack on fourth-and-one early in the second half. At the time, the Sailors led just 13-7.

Sailors freshman Emma Yokoi had an interception and Caroline Eadie also had a late sack for Newport Harbor, while senior Sophie Wade nearly hauled in a touchdown pass from Shaw toward the end.

Newport Harbor freshman Emma Yokoi (35), shown earlier this season against Edison, had an interception against CdM on Wednesday. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) The game was the Sailors’ last home game of the regular season at Davidson Field.

“It means so much,” Chappell said of enjoying another win over CdM with her fellow seniors. “Most importantly, we’ve all gotten to have fun with each other. The last four years have been so enjoyable, and I’m just so thankful for that.”

Corona del Mar (13-7, 6-4) scored its touchdown on a pass from Charlotte Ring to AnnaSofia Dickens. Mia Balabanian had an interception for the Sea Kings on the first play of the game.

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Matt Szabo covers the city of Huntington Beach and sports for the Daily Pilot. A Southern California native and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo graduate, he has been working for L.A. Times Community News since 2006 and still loves talking to people about their hopes and dreams.