CIF SOUTHERN SECTION MASTERS TOURNAMENT:

LAKE FOREST — There are no magnets in the water, somehow drawing the Newport Harbor High and Corona del Mar girls’ water polo teams to the same pool for game after game after game.

It only seems that way.

So, when both teams lost Saturday’s semifinal games at the CIF Southern Section Masters Tournament, they immediately knew what that would mean.

It would be another Back Bay rivalry in the water, the sixth time the teams would play each other this season.

“We got to settle unfinished business,” Sailors senior Mimi Bury said, laughing. “Just kidding.”

In all five tournaments the Sailors and Sea Kings participated in this year, they played each other in their final game, and the Masters Tournament was no exception.

This time, it was Corona del Mar coming out on top, 6-5, in the tournament’s third-place game at El Toro High to end both teams’ season.

Earlier Saturday, Foothill topped the CIF Southern Section Division I champion Sailors, 9-4. Los Alamitos got by CdM, 5-4.

That left Newport Harbor (30-5) and CdM (26-9) to slug it out one more time, but after the CIF playoffs, much of the pressure was off. Both teams played their starting lines for much of the first half, but then went to almost all-senior lineups to start the second half.

Seniors Lauren Jarvie, Jessica Lincoln, Annie Savoji, Amanda Simons and Elizabeth Wheeler, along with junior Mia Butera, were in the water for Newport Harbor. CdM countered with a lineup of seniors Allison Peotter, Carissa Dice, Stephanie Figge, Corinne Treadaway and Kate Stimac, as well as junior Erin McAdams.

“It’s closing a chapter in the book,” said Treadaway, a team captain. “Four years went into it, at least for the seniors, and I feel like we closed it on a good note. I’m just really proud of everybody. After what happened last week [in CIF], we just wanted to prove to everybody that we could do it and we could hold our own with them. We did, so I’m really happy about that.”

Corona del Mar built up a 6-1 lead after three quarters, including a goal from mid-pool by junior goalie Kate Baldoni. Newport Harbor then rallied in the fourth, just like it did in the Tars’ 6-5 overtime win over CdM in the Division I title game on Feb. 23.

Newport Harbor sophomore Kaleigh Gilchrist’s goal pulled the Sailors within one with just over two minutes left. But CdM hung on when Baldoni (15 saves) just got to Kate Klippert’s shot from the outside with seconds to go.

Sailors senior Jessica Robinson, who had a goal, an assist and two steals in the third-place game, said it was hard for the CIF champs to rev back up for Masters.

“It was kind of fun,” Robinson said. “We wanted to win. We weren’t just going to roll over, but the motivation wasn’t really there like it’s been there in previous games and tournaments.”

The Sea Kings felt the same way, even after suffering a tough loss to Los Al in the semifinals. CdM never led the game, but pulled within a goal early in the fourth quarter when junior Kate Berry skipped in a shot from the wing.

CdM had two six-on-five opportunities in the final minutes, and had the ball with under 40 seconds to go before Griffins sophomore Kaley Dodson stole it. A lob shot in front of the goal with 15 seconds to play was also tipped away by Los Al goalie Allie Taylor.

Afterward, the Sea Kings weren’t exactly crushed. They gathered around to eat cupcakes in honor of teammate Erica Wheeler’s 17th birthday.

“We kind of decided we’ll go into this tournament and have a good time with it,” Dice said. “We’re trying to have fun.”

Newport Harbor, meanwhile, felt its semifinal slip away because of a determined Foothill attack. The Knights never trailed in the game.

Sailors junior Nicolina McCall scored from set late in the third quarter to cut Foothill’s lead to 5-3, but the Knights scored the next two goals — one from Emily Klug and one from Kathryn Bustard — to make it a more comfortable advantage.

Newport Harbor, with seniors Erin Reid and Kimmy Morrison out sick, was just one for nine in power-play chances.

Klug, however, was called for a brutality after getting tangled up with McCall with just a second left in the game. The infraction, similar to a red card in soccer, meant she would miss the final against Los Al.

The Griffins took advantage, defeating the short-handed Knights, 5-3, to win the tournament.

For the two local schools, it was perhaps fitting that they would spend their final game against one another — even if the perceived stakes weren’t as high.

And, for the seniors, it was a time of reflection.

“At the beginning of the year I was thinking about how hard all the practices were going to be,” Jarvie said. “But then I thought that once I graduated, I wouldn’t remember all the practices. I’d just remember getting as far as we could.

“We won CIF, so it was worth it.”

CIF Southern Section

Masters Tournament

Third-place game

Corona del Mar 6, Newport Harbor 5

SCORE BY QUARTERS

CdM – Van Hiel 1, Kennedy 1, Dice 1, Molnar 1, Kaczmarek 1, Baldoni 1. Saves – Baldoni 15.

NH – McCall 2, Gilchrist 2, Robinson 1. Saves – Miner 3, Datt 2, Vickers 1.

Semifinal

Foothill 9, Newport Harbor 4

SCORE BY QUARTERS

F – Klug 3, Bustard 2, Zwirner 2, Krumpholz 1, Groff 1. Saves – Avetoom 6.

NH – Bury 2, McCall 1, Gilchrist 1. Saves – Vickers 3.

Semifinal

Los Alamitos 5, Corona del Mar 4

SCORE BY QUARTERS

LA – Dunn 2, C. Dodson 1, Miller 1, K. Dodson 1. Saves – Taylor 6.

CdM – Kennedy 2, Berry 1, Van Hiel 1. Saves – Baldoni 10.

MATT SZABO may be reached at (714) 966-4614 or by e-mail at [email protected].