The Coronado High School girls’ water polo team is back on track, taking its fourth CIF title in five years with a finals victory over Francis Parker High.
Though the other three championships were in Division I, this year’s Division II title is a nice bounceback from a first-round exit in Division I last season.
The No. 1 seed Islanders won their first two games of the tournament by one goal each, but managed to beat the No. 3 seed Lancers by three goals.
The scoring got started immediately when sophomore Inah Bingham netted a lob shot over the goalie’s head from the right side. The Lancers answered right back before freshman Baleri Garces scored one from close on an assist from freshman Audrey Roberts.
For the rest of the first period, scoring slowed. The game was stuck at 2-1 until two late goals, one by Garces again for the Islanders before the Lancers punched back to get within one.
Roberts and Garces did the heavy lifting in the second period for the Islanders, as Roberts started the period with a bullet that went off the crossbar and in. Not long after, Garces was driving with the ball but was fouled, and skipped the ball in on the penalty shot.
After a few stops on defense from the Islanders, junior Ellie Machin found Roberts, who spun and fired one in to extend the lead to four.
In what was mostly a dominant period defensively for Coronado, Francis Parker managed to net two unanswered goals to end the half, keeping them within arm’s reach at 6-4.
The Lancers kept the foot on the gas to start the second half, scoring two early goals to tie the game. But, for the second time, Machin found Roberts, this time on a cross pass that Roberts scored into the top of the net.
It was a one-goal lead going into the fourth quarter. Parents and fans of both sides rose to their feet to cheer.
Machin continued to set up her teammates, crossing a pass to sophomore Isabella Kenny – not giving the goalie time to properly adjust – for an easy goal.
Head coach David Throop spoke highly of Machin and Kenny and their performances after the game.
“Isabella Kenny had two big games back-to-back,” Throop said. “That’s something we’ve been saying to all of them: ‘We all trust you in these moments, trust yourself …’ We tried to create a philosophy and a system that allowed everyone to be engaged.”
Sophomore goalkeeper Sophia Moreno was key for the Islanders all game, coming up with saves in big spots. After a save from Moreno and a steal by Roberts on the following possession, Roberts went coast-to-coast, netting her fourth goal of the game.
Throop said he was especially proud of his team for “ just being able to weather the ups and downs, not get too caught up in the emotional flow of the moment.”
The Islanders and their fans broke out into celebration as the buzzer sounded. Players started jumping around, and Coronado once again hoisted a CIF trophy.
Now, Throop and the Islanders have to stay focused for their upcoming regional matchup against Palisades.
“We have a practice tomorrow, and if we advance beyond Tuesday’s game, we get a practice on Wednesday and it’s just, take it day by day, focus on refining a couple of things that we can do a little bit better,” Throop said.
Coronado faces Palisades on Tuesday at Brian Bent Memorial Aquatics Complex. The game starts at 5 p.m.
