Sienna Sorensen, a USC-bound senior goalkeeper, recorded 12 saves, with Stanford signee Kirra Pantaleon and Indiana commit Penny Mauser both contributing three goals, in addition to junior Delaney Hook adding two goals for second-seeded Mater Dei in an 11-7 girls water polo victory against No. 5 San Marcos in the CIF Southern California Regional Division 1 championship match Feb. 28 at the Monte Nitzkowski Aquatics Center on the campus of Long Beach City College.
Mater Dei won its first Division 1 regional crown since 2018 and its second title in four finals appearances, rebounding from losses in the regional championship match the past two years against Trinity League rival Orange Lutheran.
The Monarchs prevailed with interim coach Nathan Allard on the pool deck, as veteran head coach Chris Segesman received a red card Feb. 26 in a 9-7 regional semifinal victory against Newport Harbor and, despite an appeal by the Mater Dei athletic department, was not allowed to mentor the team against San Marcos in the final.
Charlotte Raisin, a USC signee, led San Marcos with three goals in not only her last prep contest, but the final match for the Royals under the guidance of veteran coach Brian “Chuckie” Roth, who will remain on the school campus as a PE teacher, in addition to being the head women’s water polo coach at Santa Barbara City College, along with the Director of the High School Boys program at Santa Barbara Water Polo Club.
Roth led San Marcos to its lone CIF-Southern Section Division 1 title in 2018, as well as its first appearance in a regional final against Mater Dei, which defeated the Royals for the eighth consecutive meeting.