Kirra Pantaleon steps up late to lead Mater Dei girls water polo team to Newport Invite title with 14-12 overtime victory against Orange Lutheran

SANTA ANA – If there was any athlete on the Mater Dei High roster who felt most comfortable competing in the pool at the Tom DeLong and Jim Brumm Aquatics Center at Foothill High, it was Kirra Pantaleon.

And if there was any competitor in the Monarchs’ lineup who understood the significance of winning the Newport Invite girls water polo tournament, it was the junior attacker, and Pantaleon rose to the occasion again Saturday against Orange Lutheran.

Post-tournament interviews

Pantaleon produced a match-high five goals, including the tying score with 1:09 remaining in regulation before adding two more during the three-minute extra periods to lift top-ranked Mater Dei to a 14-12 overtime victory against the rival Lancers in the tournament final.

Pantaleon, who contributed to Foothill winning the Newport Invite championship the past two seasons before she and EJ Hourigan transferred to Mater Dei prior to the school year, helped the Monarchs (20-2) secure a third victory in a 22-day span against Orange Lutheran (20-3).

The teams are scheduled to square off again at 5:30 p.m. PST Tuesday in a Trinity League showdown at Mater Dei.

Mater Dei, which received 11 saves from USC-bound junior goalkeeper Sienna Sorensen, also became the first program to capture titles at the Bill Barnett Holiday Cup, Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions and Newport Invite in the same year.

Mater Dei girls water polo team | Erik Boal photo

Orange Lutheran, which endured a 10-9 semifinal loss Jan. 4 at the Bill Barnett Holiday Cup followed by a 10-7 setback Jan. 11 in the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions final, took a 10-9 lead Saturday with 1:14 remaining on a goal by UCLA-bound senior Jailynn Robinson.

But Pantaleon wasted little time helping Mater Dei pull even at 10-10, firing a shot in the upper corner on the ensuing possession for her second goal in the fourth quarter.

After Orange Lutheran was unsuccessful in regaining the advantage, the Monarchs replaced Sorensen with an extra attacker for their last offensive series in regulation, but the Lancers turned away two potential scoring opportunities in the final seconds – including one of 15 saves from San Diego State-bound senior Kyla Pranajaya – to send the match into overtime.

Sorensen recorded one of the clutch stops of her career with Mater Dei protecting a 9-8 lead, denying Orange Lutheran junior Allison Cohen on a point-blank shot right in front of the cage with 3:06 remaining.

Despite not being awarded a single 6-on-5 advantage during regulation, Mater Dei quickly capitalized on Orange Lutheran’s first exclusion in overtime, with USC commit Riley Johnson scoring less than 30 seconds into the first three-minute extra period.

Pantaleon converted a 5-meter penalty shot with 1:13 left in the opening overtime session to increase the Monarchs’ advantage to 12-10, before Robinson answered on the following possession to help Orange Lutheran pull within a goal.

Paige Segesman, a freshman, scored late in the first three-minute extra period, with Pantaleon contributing her fifth goal to open the second overtime session to extend the lead to 14-11 with 1:50 left.

Liz Nicoloff scored for the second time for the Lancers with 1:24 remaining in the second extra period, but Sorensen recorded a save and Pantaleon produced a field block down the stretch to deny a potential Orange Lutheran comeback.

Michelle Urkov led the Lancers with four goals, Robinson and Nicoloff both scored twice and Estelle Karaba, Eve Webb, Kate Sloman and Cohen contributed goals for Orange Lutheran, which made 3 of 4 attempts on 5-meter penalty shots, but was unsuccessful on three 6-on-5 opportunities.

Maggie Ryan, Johnson and Segesman all scored twice for Mater Dei, with Penny Mauser, Bella Jurgensen and Hourigan also contributing goals for the Monarchs, who have won nine in a row since an 11-10 overtime loss Jan. 14 against Newport Harbor (20-5).

Mater Dei rebounded with a 10-7 semifinal victory Saturday against Newport Harbor, as Pantaleon scored a match-high four goals and Sorensen recorded 12 saves.

After converting only one of 12 opportunities with a 6-on-5 advantage in the last meeting against the Sailors, Mater Dei was 6 of 10 in the rematch

Jessica Reagan, Delaney Hook, Johnson, Jurgensen, Mauser and Ryan all scored for the Monarchs.

Gabby Alexson and Valery Verdugo both scored twice, with Caitlin Stayt, Sophia Verdugo and Kennedy Fahey contributing goals for Newport Harbor, which received seven saves from Lydia Soderberg.

Orange Lutheran advanced to the final with an 11-6 victory against Oaks Christian (16-7).

Cohen and Robinson both had three goals apiece, Nicoloff scored twice, with Julianna Palazzolo, Karaba and Urkov adding goals and Pranajaya producing eight saves for the Lancers.

Mia Fabros had two goals, with Maryam Maamoun, Aaliyah Kim, Ivana Malenkovic and Siena Doble scoring for Oaks Christian, which earned a berth in the semifinals following a 12-11 overtime victory Thursday in pool-play competition against San Marcos.

Newport Harbor, which won the inaugural tournament in 2022, secured a 12-7 triumph in the third-place match against Oaks Christian

Soderberg recorded eight saves, with Fahey scoring three goals, along with Emerson Mulvey and Alexson both adding two goals each for the Sailors, who also had Caroline Daniel, Campbell Pence, Madison Mack, Harper Price and Valery Verdugo contribute goals.

Fabros led the Lions with four goals, including one with 5:30 left in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 6-5, before Newport Harbor responded with three unanswered goals in less than three minutes to seize the momentum.

Nicole O’Neill scored twice and Malenkovic added a goal for Oaks Christian, with Alexandra Stoddard recording six saves.