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Top Stories NewsLos Osos wins first girls water polo titleLos Osos 6, La Habra 5 Parks nets the tying goal and the winner in a 29-second span, clinching the Grizzlies' first title.11:55 PM PST on Saturday, February 28, 2009IRVINE - Chelsea Parks scored four goals, including the decisive two in a 29-second span of the fourth quarter, leading Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos to a 6-5 victory over La Habra and its first CIF-Southern Section Division 5 girls water polo championship on Saturday at William Woollett Aquatic Center. "I'm in awe of this group," Coach Eric Cypher said. "These girls are resilient, and even when we were behind, we came back and kept fighting." Down 5-4 in the fourth quarter, Parks tied the match with 5:15 remaining, then scored again with 4:46 left to lift Los Osos (28-4). "We knew (La Habra) had top players," said Parks, a junior center who scored 15 goals in four postseason games for the Grizzlies, the No. 1 seed out of the Baseline League. "We also knew we would have a physical advantage against them, but it came down to emotion and energy. We had more." Los Osos sophomore goalkeeper Alex Bayer was blistered by seven shots in the final minutes but withstood the barrage. Bayer, in her second season as a starter, finished with 12 saves. "I knew the type of team I was facing," said Bayer, who had played club water polo with Danielle Kenny, La Habra's senior captain. "I know she likes to shoot to the 2-post (outside post), so I was looking for that." Kenny, a senior, scored in the first quarter but was stopped by Bayer on each of her final three attempts. The Highlanders, the No. 3 seed from the Freeway League, finish 26-6. "They had a great game plan. They did a great job in extra-man situations," Coach Jim Crowther said. Los Osos scored three of its first four goals, and the game-winner, on 6-on-5 advantages. Seniors Miranda Furuto and Caitlyn Stephenson had one goal each for the Grizzles. |
