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Corona del Mar’s boys water polo team leaned on its anticipation skills, leg strength and technique Wednesday night for a defensive effort that filled the Santa Margarita pool deck with one thumping echo after another.
The Sea Kings used their shot blocking in the field and 12 saves from goalie Ben Kubichek to defeat the Eagles 13-11 to claim the Group B in the CIF-SS Open Division playoffs and advance to the semifinals next week.
Corona del Mar (25-6), seeded third in the Open behind No. 2 Santa Margarita (26-4), had five players combine for seven field blocks.
The Sea Kings’ field blocks fueled their counterattack early and late, and helped limit the Eagles’ power play to a 4 for 11 effort.
Corona del Mar’s defenders seemed to be constantly rising with out-stretched arms to knock down shots.
“They played for one another in front of the goalie to get the field blocks,” Santa Margarita coach Ivan Buich said of Corona del Mar. “They came out with a really hard press and we didn’t adjust. When we did adjust, it was a good game.”
On one possession in the fourth period, Corona del Mar juniors William Weir and Brody Rauth recorded consecutive field blocks before Kubichek made a save. The defensive stand led to a counterattack strike Samuel Macias for a 12-7 lead with 4:05 left.
It was an impressive union between the field defenders and goalie.
“Our whole game plan is (the field defenders) take their side of the cage, I got everything else,” Kubichek said. “As long as I can trust the people in front of me, they can trust me. … They did awesome.”
Kubichek, a transfer from Mater Dei, showed his anticipation and quickness to make six of his blocks against the Santa Margarita power play.
The 5-foot-9 senior also brought plenty of energy.
“This is my first time in the playoffs,” he said. “I’m trying to prove himself.”
Corona del Mar senior Nathan Simoncelli proved himself by playing center and defender in a clash against Santa Margarita’s duo of Logan McGann and Tannor Bachhuber among others.
The USC commit had three steals, a field block, two goals and drew three exclusions and a penalty in going “2 to 2.”
“It gets pretty tiring,” Simoncelli said. “I have to sacrifice … (but) I have a great group guys behind me and they motivate me.”
Weir notched two field blocks and two steals to go along with five goals to continue his breakout season.
Bryan Shapirshteyn also recorded two field blocks for Corona del Mar, which led 6-1 late in the first half.
Corona del Mar will face the winner of the Oaks Christian at Santa Margarita match Saturday in the semifinals Nov. 12 for a chance to reach its first Open final. The Sea Kings last played in a premier division final in 2002 in Division 1.
“We’re excited that we get a little more time to prep,” Corona del Mer coach Lucas Reynolds said. “I worked with Kareem Captan for a long time and he always used to say that if you work hard early, you get rewarded later.”
Evan Wu netted five goals to pace Santa Margarita while Bachhuber added four. McGann drew five exclusions.
Santa Margarita goalie Pedro Mattiazo had eight saves.
In Group A, defending champion Newport Harbor defeated Oaks Christian 12-6 to reach the semifinals.
In another Open game:
JSerra 14, Laguna Beach 6: Connor Colman scored eight goals to lead the host Lions. JSerra plays host to Mira Costa on Saturday for a chance to reach the semifinals against Newport Harbor.
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