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NEWPORT BEACH — Newport Harbor’s boys water polo team isn’t counting only on standout returners to power the defense of its CIF-SS Open Division title.
The Sailors are leaning on several up-and-coming players as they displayed Saturday in an early-season showdown against visiting Harvard-Westlake.
Senior attacker Finn Lesieur scored a match-high four goals and added three assists and three steals to help pace the Sailors to a 12-11 victory.
Lesieur flourished in his expanded role by delivering consecutive goals in the final two minutes of the third period to tie the score 8-8 and answer a 5-0 run by Harvard-Westlake (5-1). Ben Liechty, The Register’s player of the year last season, assisted both goals for Newport Harbor (3-0).
Lesieur then showed his well-rounded skills on the go-ahead goal. He won the fourth-period sprint, drew an exclusion and passed to star center Peter Castillo in front of the near post for an extra-man strike and 9-8 lead.
“He’s seizing the moment,” Newport Harbor coach Ross Sinclair said of Lesieur. “Throughout (last) season during training he emerged. He’s always been a really talented kid. I think he moves in the water better than anyone I’ve seen in a while.
“He’s very athletic and works really, really hard, so to see the way he is having success is a testament to his work ethic.”
Newport Harbor returner Finn Genc showed his improvement about a minute later with a no-look entry pass to Liechty for a strike at center and a fourth unanswered goal by the Sailors.
Newport Harbor also received contributions from emerging juniors Owen Tift, Gavin Appledorn and Jack Wright, who helped the Sailors overcome a 4 for 14 effort on the power-play.
“I think there’s a lot of potential with these guys,” Sinclair said.
The Sailors took a 12-10 lead into the final minute of regulation but Harvard-Westkake scored twice, including with one second left.
Four different players scored twice for the Wolverines, who went 3 for 4 with the extra attacker. Goalie Baxter Chelsom added eight saves in his duel with Newport Harbor’s Cooper Mathisrud (four saves).
“Today showed that we can play a variety of players and they’re all ready to step up,” said first-year Harvard-Westlake coach Jack Glover.
Newport Harbor and Harvard-Westlake could clash again next week in the South Coast Tournament.
