Clairemont delivers strong second-half defensive effort against Valhalla to secure first Southern California Division 2 girls water polo regional crown

LONG BEACH – After the deepest senior class in Clairemont High girls water polo history provided all the necessary offense Saturday, it was up to one of the most experienced goalkeepers in the state to deliver another impressive defensive stand against Valhalla in the Southern California Division 2 regional final.

Ava Barclay recorded 10 saves and held the No. 2 Norsemen scoreless for the final 13 minutes, 15 seconds, as top-seeded Clairemont captured its first regional championship in program history with a 9-6 victory at Long Beach City College.

Post-match interviews

Clairemont rebounded following a 14-9 setback to San Clemente in last year’s Division 2 regional to prevail in only the second all-San Diego Section finals matchup in regional championship history.

Clairemont girls water polo team | Erik Boal photo

Torrey Pines was victorious against Mount Carmel by an 8-5 margin in the 2023 Division 3 regional final.

Sam Denny, a senior, provided the only second-half goal with 4:03 remaining Saturday for the Chieftains (20-12), who never trailed in the contest.

Cami Pryor, also a senior, produced her match-leading fifth assist to set up Denny, who also scored the Chieftains’ opening goal just 13 seconds into the contest.

Kylie Sagastume, the all-time leading scorer at Clairemont, added a pair of first-quarter goals and Ava Gatewood also scored for the Chieftains, who established an early 4-1 advantage.

Gia Jacob, a freshman, scored twice in the opening quarter and sophomore Avery Boone contributed a goal for Valhalla (24-6) to cut the deficit to 4-3 entering the second quarter.

Audrey Harper, Nina Bunton, Gatewood and Pryor, all seniors, each scored before halftime for the Chieftains, who responded with poise and efficiency every time Valhalla pulled to within one goal.

Jacob produced her third goal and senior Mairin Furlong also scored in the second quarter for the Norsemen, who received nine first-half saves from Jade Elia to remain within striking distance at 8-5.

Boone converted a Valhalla counterattack in the opening minute of the second half to trim the Clairemont advantage to 8-6, with Norsemen second-half goalkeeper Gianna Adams holding the Chieftains scoreless during the third quarter.

Jacob had an opportunity to bring Valhalla within a goal in the first minute of the fourth quarter, but her 5-meter penalty shot caromed off the crossbar and Barclay was able to prevent the ball from floating across the line to preserve the two-goal advantage for Clairemont.

Denny finally ended a scoreless drought of more than 10 minutes for the Chieftains with her second goal, allowing Clairemont to use significant amounts of the clock on each ensuing possession to secure its second victory this season against Valhalla, along with an 8-6 triumph Dec. 20 against the Norsemen.

Adams recorded 10 saves for Valhalla, which reached the CIF-San Diego Section Open Division semifinals, along with Clairemont, before the Norsemen advanced to their first regional championship match with victories against Rancho Bernardo and Murrieta Valley.

The Chieftains surrendered the fewest goals in regional competition among all three division champions with 11 allowed in three matches, highlighted by Barclay recording 18 saves in an 8-2 semifinal victory Thursday against rival La Jolla at Cathedral Catholic High, which followed a 10-save performance Tuesday against San Dimas in the regional opener.

Clairemont became only the second San Diego Section girls water polo program to win a Division 2 regional crown, joining La Jolla in 2022.