Unbeaten Palos Verdes girls water polo team overcomes early El Segundo challenge to repeat as Bay League champions

PALOS VERDES – During a dominant regular season that has presented little drama for the Palos Verdes High girls water polo team, El Segundo managed to create an element of suspense Monday night in the Bay League tournament final.

The Eagles held a one-goal advantage at halftime and were looking to play the role of ultimate spoiler against host Palos Verdes, which was not only pursuing back-to-back league championships, but also attempting to complete an unbeaten regular season.

Post-match interviews

But the Sea Kings produced five goals in the third quarter, as part of a run of seven unanswered scores during a 10-minute stretch in the second half, and never looked back in a 12-7 victory.

Palos Verdes (26-0, 7-0) secured consecutive league titles for the first time since 2012-13.

The Sea Kings also became just the ninth girls water polo program in CIF-Southern Section history to win at least 26 consecutive matches and will be the only unbeaten program in the section entering the playoffs in February.

Palos Verdes girls water polo team | Photo courtesy of Palos Verdes

Maddie Marohn, a senior goalkeeper, had seven saves – including a block of a 5-meter penalty shot by Evelyn Hale with 5:05 remaining in the fourth quarter – and contributed two steals and an assist for Palos Verdes, which held El Segundo (20-10, 4-3) scoreless in the second half until Cami Martinez converted a rebound shot with 3:45 left in the contest.

Jane Girard, an Indiana-bound senior, led the Sea Kings with four goals – her 5-meter penalty shot with 4:09 remaining completing the seven-goal run – and two steals, with sophomore Abbey Higgins adding three goals, two assists and two steals for the Sea Kings, who also prevailed by a 14-5 margin Jan. 7 against El Segundo.

Palos Verdes received significant performances from a pair of freshmen, with Kylie Nishimura contributing three goals – two during the five-goal surge in third – and Ella Keene scoring twice, including the final offensive attack for the Sea Kings with 11 seconds left in the decisive quarter.

Hale had two first-quarter goals, the latter giving the Eagles a 4-2 lead, and Cal Baptist commit Kendall Donahue recorded eight saves for El Segundo, which became only the seventh opponent this season to come within five goals of Palos Verdes.

Ava Albertson, Brianna Nelson, Valeria Mora, Harper Liberty and Martinez added goals for the Eagles, who secured a pair of victories last year against Palos Verdes when the teams competed in separate leagues, as El Segundo captured the Pioneer crown.

The Sea Kings, who reached the Southern Section Division 3 final last year before suffering a 9-1 setback to Corona Centennial, will await Friday’s release of the postseason pairings.

The top eight programs in the section will be placed in the Open Division based on Massey Ratings, with the Division 1 and 2 playoffs both expected to be 16-team draws, similar to last season. 

Redondo Union took third place in the league tournament with a 12-8 victory Monday against Mira Costa.