South All-Stars Rise to a Higher Water Level

Max Miyahara had not seen a roster for the team he would coach against in the third annual Orange County girls’ water polo all-star game, but he still had reason to fear.

And those fears became reality when Miyahara’s North team took a 14-5 drubbing by the South Sunday at El Toro High.

With a roster that included eight players who played in Southern Section title games last week, the South brought a potent offensive attack, led by Nicole Huszcz of Division I runner-up Irvine High, who had five goals.

“They have some outstanding athletes,” said Miyahara, who coaches Esperanza. “I didn’t really get a look at the roster before the game, but I had a pretty good idea who they would have. And those girls came away with the job as expected.”

The South wasted little time in establishing dominance. Ashley Stachowski of Capistrano Valley, who had three steals, made a steal on the North’s first possession and found Huszcz driving the left side. Huszcz completed the play with a goal 36 seconds into the game.

Huszcz struck again 1:21 later with a six-on-five goal and after Jocelyn Manderino of Newport Harbor and Hayley Sudeith of University added first-quarter goals, the rout was on.

“This is all just for fun,” Huszcz said. “Obviously everybody is more laid back and it’s nice to spend a relaxing day at the pool.”

Julie Henn, who led Rosary to the Division IV title, had three goals for the North, including an impressive underwater spin move to make the score 9-3 with 3:53 left in the first quarter.

Henn and Kelley McNeley, also of Rosary, were the only North players with Southern Section title game experience.

It was that experience that made things a little awkward for players from Division I champion Newport Harbor and Irvine, who played their championship game only two days before they played together in practice for the first time.

“It was a little weird at first,” Huszcz said. “But all the girls were nice and it was great being able to be friends.”

Goalie Amy Hilts of University, the Division IV runner-up, played the first and third quarters for the South and had eight saves.

Sudeith, Marissa Nelson of Marina and Diana Day of Newport Harbor each scored twice for the South. Theresa Gorbett of Foothill and Danielle Bourett of Villa Park each had a goal for the North.