Madison Mack, Emerson Mulvey help Newport Harbor girls water polo team outlast host Mater Dei 11-10 in overtime thriller

SANTA ANA – Emerson Mulvey enjoyed an exceptional homecoming experience.

Madison Mack delivered the most meaningful goal of her Newport Harbor High career.

And the Mater Dei High girls water polo team was reminded Tuesday night that even when you boast one of the elite lineups in the country, if you only convert one of 12 opportunities with a player advantage, it leaves the door open for the opposition to capitalize and the visiting Sailors took full advantage at the William Lyon Homes Aquatic Center.

Post-match interviews

Mulvey, a Mater Dei transfer, produced the tying goal with three seconds left in regulation, setting the stage for Mack to provide the dramatic winning score with 18 seconds remaining in the second three-minute extra period to lift Newport Harbor to an 11-10 overtime victory against the top-ranked Monarchs.

Mater Dei (11-2), which had its 10-match winning streak halted, prevailed by a 15-9 margin Jan. 4 against Newport Harbor (16-3) in the final of the Bill Barnett Holiday Cup at Corona del Mar High.

But Sailors senior goalkeeper Lydia Soderberg recorded 12 saves in the rematch, including eight in the first half, as Mater Dei didn’t convert on any of its four 6-on-5 opportunities and Newport Harbor maintained a 4-3 advantage at halftime.

Soderberg also limited Mater Dei to only one goal in the final nine minutes Tuesday, including overtime.

Mulvey, a sophomore, scored all three of her goals in the second half and overtime for Newport Harbor, but juniors Kirra Pantaleon and Penny Mauser also elevated their level of play after halftime for the host Monarchs, who took their first lead at 7-6 with two seconds left in the third quarter on a goal by sophomore Drew Shelton.

Mauser, who had three goals, provided Mater Dei with a two-goal advantage with 6:22 remaining in the fourth, but Gabby Alexson and fellow sophomore Mack – who also scored three goals apiece – helped Newport Harbor rally to tie the score at 8-8 three minutes later, building momentum toward a thrilling conclusion in regulation and a pair of exciting extra periods.

Pantaleon, who earned MVP honors Saturday to lead Mater Dei to its first title in program history at the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions, produced her match-high fourth goal with 3:04 left in regulation to put the Monarchs back in front at 9-8.

Pantaleon also converted on a pair of 5-meter penalty shots Tuesday for Mater Dei.

Mulvey, who overcame being whistled for two exclusions in the opening quarter to remain eligible for the rest of the match for the Sailors, benefited from Newport Harbor playing without a goalkeeper on the final offensive possession of regulation and then drawing a Mater Dei exclusion to convert on a rare two-player advantage by placing a shot inside the far post to force overtime with the score tied at 9-9.

The Monarchs regained the lead at 10-9 on a backhand goal by Mauser with 1:17 remaining in the opening three-minute extra period, before Valery Verdugo pulled Newport Harbor even again on the ensuing possession.

Despite Mater Dei goalkeeper Sienna Sorensen recording a clutch stop against the Sailors in the second extra period, one of eight saves for the junior standout, the Monarchs were whistled for a pair of 2-meter fouls on offense, in addition to misfiring on three shots.

Following a Newport Harbor timeout, Mack achieved the deciding goal by placing a 7-meter shot inside the far post, the first lead for Sailors since the two-minute mark of the third quarter.

Mater Dei also brought an extra attacker into the field on its final offensive possession, looking to force sudden-death overtime, but the Monarchs were unable to get a shot off before time expired.

Bella Jurgensen and Jessica Reagan added goals for Mater Dei, with Sophia Verdugo scoring on a 5-meter penalty shot for Newport Harbor.

The teams could square off for a third time during the regular season Jan. 23-25 at the Newport Invite, in addition to another potential matchup in the CIF Southern Section playoffs.