Girls water polo: Elite Eight looks great in Division 1
February 16th, 2011, 10:13 pm · · posted by DAN ALBANO, ocvarsity.com
Here’s what I’ve heard regarding the schedules for the Division 1 girls water polo quarterfinals Friday:
Upper bracket — Edison is hoping to play host to Dos Pueblos at Ocean View at 5 p.m. Laguna Beach plays host to Newport Harbor at 4:15 p.m.
Lower bracket — There’s talk of a doubleheader at CdM. The Sea Queens would play host to Santa Barbara and Los Al-Foothill would join the card.
I have my eye on the Newport Harbor-Laguna Beach match as the most explosive pairing. The team don’t have a ton of history. Both are on a roll. No. 1 in the the county vs. No. 3 in the county. Laguna Beach is super-tough to beat in its own pool. Tricky metal cages, small and crowded deck. Tons of great players and coaching. Should be an awesome match.
All CIF GIRLS WATER POLO PLAYOFF BRACKETS
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Wait. Remind me again why a crucial quarterfinal in the Country’s (that’s right, the entire USA) premier water polo division is played in a pool that has “Tricky metal cages, (and a) small and crowded deck”. Hello?! CIF Southern Section?! Are you out there?! WAKE UP!! This just shows where water polo stands in relation to the rest of the CIF sports. Would they play a football game on a 90 yard field? Would they have a quarterfinal basketball game in a gym that could only accommodate 150 fans?
And Dos Pueblos has a serious gripe with the AYSO-style structure of the playoffs. Congratulations on your amazing undefeated season and your clear #1 seed. For your efforts you are rewarded with three trips to Orange County for the remainder of the postseason. #8 “hosting” a #1? I guess we really are becoming a Socialist Nation.
I completely agree and its not about wanting to do a disservice to Laguna Beach, I like their team a lot. Its about being fair to all and having our sports primary end of the season championship event played in a nice pool that is fan friendly and allows teams to play real, get up and down the tank water polo, worthy of the awesome athletes that are competing.
On your second point, I also very much agree and to me this is what has made DP’s run so amazing. They win consistently having to travel into our myopic OC utopia to play almost all of the tournaments, including the CIF championship. This means long rides through bad traffic, eating at odd times, sleeping in hotel beds with disrupted sleep schedules and all that goes along with sports travel. So much for rewarding excellence. Maybe the DP parents can write a OC traveler’s guide.
Down here in the South we all talk about last years exciting final and DP’s come back (NP’s lament) and it was an exceptional final worthy of a D1 championship game. But to me the game that stands out in DP’s streak is their win the previous year vs. a VERY stacked CDM team, which produced five D1 recruits. I recall sitting in the stands laughing as some CDM homers beside me wondered if DP’s goalie was any good and then watching as DP sophomores T. Schroeder and K. Neushul teamed to score the first goal and then proceeded to lock down CDM the entire game.
In the same vein, I bet CDM is happy to get to play SB down here vs. up North where they seem a very different team, at least if they did go up north it would be in a real pool with floating cages.
Tough travel for DP but the rules say it is the Chargers’ home game
If it’s a DP-Santa Barbara final, look for that game to played in Santa Barbara area – Southern Section has said it is open to that move
Those cages are only tricky if players have not encountered them recently
Good teams need to be able win on the road
“Back-Me-up” I can agree with your statement and the method for seating the teams this year is consistent with years past. However, many of the teams/leagues within Division 1 this year could not match-up with the elite “8” Division 1 teams. The fact that the Sunset League had 4 teams represented in the round of sixteen speaks to the high level of play within the league. Should Edison High been ranked lower than any team out of the Bay League? This year absolutely not. Both Bay league teams were far out matched based on their immediate exit from the playoffs. As for Dos Pueblos receiving a “raw deal” and having to travel down to Orange County, that is the price for success. CIF Rule 3204 is in-place to provide a fair and equitable method for teams to host a playoff game. Edison High was unlucky in the original seeding, but very lucky for gaining a small advantage against the Division I powerhouse. At the end of the day, the elite eight (8) teams of Division 1 made it to the second round and should provide the spectators’ some high level play.
FYI, it’s a double header at Ocean View HS:
3:30 Foothill vs Los Al
5pm Dos Pueblos vs Edison
I heard Foothill v. Los Al was at CdM at 6:30????
Nope, it’s currently 3:30 @ Ocean View
Which ever pool Los Al plays at I think we should all be glad that Carlson doesn’t push to have his home games at the postage stamp Los Al pool, with the metal hanging cages.
The New Ocean View pool is really nice, and will be even nicer when they eventually get bleachers. It should be a nice double header.
I agree that the Sunset leage was a powerrful league, but I would not be shocked to see all three remaining teams be out after Friday night
That is because Carlson does not need an artificial advantage with the caliber of his teams. He is not afraid to play any team straight up in a real pool.
Bold comments about Sunset League Waussh. Foothill has no chance against Los Al. I still like Newport’s chances despite Laguna’s insistence on playing in a non-regulation pool (rumor has it they were invited to participate in the double/triple header at CDM and declined). Rest assured, if LB wins there will be an asterisk next to the W due to the facilities.
I agree that Edison will be done – unless they pull off the upset of the century.
I must lament the 3:30 start time…WHY??? Some people gotta work, ya know!
I disagree that Foothill has “no chance”, they are a good team & not to be easily overlooked. I thought they played Los Al tough in the Irvine tournament. That being said, however, I think Los Al should win, but I think Foothill will keep it interesting. FYI, Los Al’s home games are usually held at the Joint Forces Training Base, a nice 50 meter pool, at least our Men’s & Women’s Olymptc teams think so, as it is their National Training Center! (except league games, which are all held at Newport Harbor)
Edison clearly has the hardest match up of the day (good luck Chargers!) but I think Newport & Los Al should both win their matches…the only wrinkle being Laguna’s small pool. I expect Barnett has a plan for playing in that tiny bath tub, though!
Dos Pueblos over Edison 15-6
Newp over Laguna 10-8
SB over CdM 9-7
FHS over Los Al 7-6
I’m a little surprised you picked Foothill over Los Al. Someone said above that they wouldn’t be shocked if the 3 Sunset league teams don’t make it to the next round, but I would be shocked if at least 2 didn’t. Edison, obviously, being the most likely not to advance, simply because they have to play #1 DP. But I think Los Al & Newp most likely should come away with a win, although I think both games could be close.
Oops, excuse my grammar, I had a little trouble obvously, with the 2nd sentence. It should read, someone said above they would not be shocked if the 3 Sunset league teams exited the playoffs after this round, but I would be shocked if at least 2 don’t advance. There, I think that’s better…
Aquatics Fan,
Yep the Base is the current Los Al, home pool, – when they can get it. If you look over Los Al’s schedule from this year, how many games did they actually play there? 2-3 at most? For the reasons you cited, they share the pool with the US Men’s and womens National teams as well as the Seal Beach Swim club and the Los Al Parks & Rec dept. so those that generate $$ for the base and the city come first.
I do agree that the base is a great facility and when you see Los Al play there they are a very different team, just ask Santa Barbara. BIG water for a high movement team makes a HUGE difference. But Los Al does have a typical HS sub standard pool with metal cages on campus and its a lot like Laguna’s pool, thats the one I was teasing about. I feel bad for Newport. And I agree with Back me Up about Carlson and his being willing to play anyone anywhere.
Yeah, true, they didn’t play many games at the Base this year. But they didn’t play ANY at the HS pool; in fact, they don’t even practice there (they practice at the Base). Regardless, I look forward to a good game tomorrow v. Foothill, another team with a nice new facility (althougth their old pool, much the same as Los Al’s in design, didn’t hold them back from winning, what was it, 4 CIF titles in row, a few years back?!)
Def. feel for Newport having to play in Laguna’s bath tub. Like I said before, I’m sure Barnett has a trick or two up his sleeve. I hope he does, anyway, since I picked Newport to advance to the next round, ha ha
Very tough game for Newport. The limitations regarding the pool and not playing arena style waterpolo is a tough task. I bet it’s a 2 goal advantage to start the game. But, its never friendly and PD waits, so the winner will be ready to compete after this one. All teams at this stage should be playing at the Los Al training center. A real deal pool and great spectating. It’s not right that the goalie can score cross cage in the quarters or anytime. bad move!!
Todays weather calls for severe rain and possible thunder beginning at 5pm. It is going to be interesting to see how this will affect play.
I realize that it is not like a football game, but still it could lead to a very different atmosphere for both players in the pool and the spectators, coaches and refs outside the pool.
Either way, it should be a fun 4 games.
Stay Dry.