Video: Girls Water Polo: Poly 11, Santiago 5

IRVINE - They're talented, consistent, deep and physical. But above all else, they're champions.

Riverside Poly's girls water polo team won its second consecutive CIF title on Saturday, defeating Corona Santiago, 11-5, in the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 championship at William Woollett Aquatic Center.

"This is awesome!" Poly head coach Tom Finwall said. "We let our emotions hang out early, but once we got into a rhythm we really started to reel it in."

Senior Jessy Cardey scored the first three goals of the match, with her second and third coming within 30 seconds of one another in the first quarter. She added another goal in the second quarter to help Poly build a 6-3 halftime lead.

"She's amazingly talented," Finwall said. "Her early goals really set a tone for us."

Cardey's consistent work on the left side made her a presence throughout the match, and her passing and ball possession helped Poly maintain control despite an off night offensively. The Bears had averaged 15 goals per match this postseason.

"I'm really excited to have back-to-back titles," Cardey said. "It's a goal that I set out for myself after last season, but I couldn't have done it without this team. They're amazing."

Seniors Kilee Dreyer and Courtney Muller each scored two goals, and sophomore goalkeeper Jillian Yocum made 12 saves for Poly (29-2), which came in as the top-seeded team from the Big VIII League.

The two teams faced each other twice during the regular season with Poly winning both matches, including a 9-7 victory on Feb. 12 in which they captured the league title.

"I think (Poly's) experience factor came into play," Santiago head coach Ty Hudson said. "It's basically the same team they had last year. Plus, they're a little deeper, which helped them."

Junior Celena Photopulos scored two goals, while junior Allison Delgado and freshmen Julia Kirkland and Sierra Smiley each scored once for Santiago (24-9), which came in as the No. 2 seed from its league.

The Sharks were 1 for 13 when playing with a 6-on-5 advantage, a stat Hudson pointed out after receiving his team's runner-up plaque.

"If we score on half of those possessions, it's a different game," he said. "Being here, though, is such a great thing for these girls and this program. We're only going to get better."