Alta Loma cruises to championship
IRVINE >> The Alta Loma girls water polo team already had experience on its roster, as well as a coach who has guided teams to championships.
A dash of youthful exuberance proved to be the final ingredient needed for the program to take a major leap forward this season.
Alta Loma had three freshmen in the starting lineup for Saturday morning’s CIF Southern Section Division 4 championship match against Marlborough. One of those newcomers, Carly Berzins, scored a natural hat trick in the first four minutes of the match and finished with four goals, as the Braves cruised to a 13-6 victory at Woollett Aquatics Center and won the program’s second section championship.
The title comes one season after Alta Loma did not qualify for the postseason.
“The freshman have been amazing, and they have had so much guidance from the underclassmen. It really has been the prefect mix of youth and experience,” said Alta Loma coach Kristin Rodriguez, who is in her second season leading the program. “Young players sometimes can go into a shell, but these girls have the confidence and know their teammates will have their backs.”
Berzins made her presence felt immediately in Saturday morning’s match. She stole the ball on Marlborough first two possessions and scored on counterattacks. Berzins got that natural hat trick when she scored to give the Braves a 3-0 lead at the 4:18 mark of the opening period.
“Getting those first goals really for the team fired up and motivated,” Berzins said. “I just wanted to do anything I could to help the team win.”
Gianna Gomez, Mackenzie Thomas and Jessica Brady added goals later in the first period as Alta Loma (283) opened up a 6-0 lead.
Berzins picked up her second exclusion early in the second period and made her way to the bench for the next 12 minutes. Foul trouble was an issue for Alta Loma, which finished the match with 14 exclusions and another foul led to a penalty shot.
“I don’t mind the aggressiveness, but we had some key players with two early and couldn’t risk them fouling out,” Rodriguez said.
Marlborough (14-5-1) managed to trim the deficit to 8-4 late in the third period, but the Mustangs only scored three times with the man advantage throughout the match.
Rodriguez was proud of how her team played in those 5-on-6 disadvantages
Saturday.
“They didn’t let those moments get them down,” Rodriguez said. “They just stepped up and got the job done. I think our goalie (Natalie Abril) helps in those situations because she bring a real calming influence.”
Abril finished the match with 10 saves.
Thomas scored her second goal of the match to give Alta Loma a 9-4 lead heading to the final period. Brady converted her second penalty shot of the match, and Samantha Passwater added a goal to extend the lead to 11-4 with 5:20 remaining in the match.
“I think we played great team defense today,” Brady said. “We were all talking to one another and making sure everyone knows where to be. I try to spearhead that, but everyone has been on the same page.”