There is an imaginary line that runs across the goal in water polo. The Bishop’s Lady Knights found out the hard way that an imaginary line doesn’t equate to a goal as the Coronado Lady Islanders ended the Lady Knights’ four-year title run with an 8-6 victory at La Jolla High’s Coggan Pool on Feb. 23 in the San Diego Section Division II girls water polo final.
Coronado appeared to be the stronger team throughout the early going, taking a quick 1-0 lead on its opening drive on a goal by Kelly Ronimus. But the second-seeded Lady Knights (25-8) would not be denied as they turned a deficit into a 3-3 tie on a shot by Dominique Sardo going into the half.
“I thought that Zinnea Alexander stepped up,” Bishop’s coach Doug Peabody said. “I thought my goalie (Julia Eichenfield) played her best game of the year in a big game like that.”
The top-seeded Lady Islanders (22-7) won the previous two meetings this season ” a rare feat in this extremely heated rivalry.
Both teams came out firing after the break. With the score knotted at 4 early in the third, controversy struck to delight the Coronado faithful and put a dagger in the hearts of the Bishop’s fans.
The Lady Knights struck for what appeared to be the go-ahead goal they had been so desperately trying to get all evening.
But Lady Islander goalie Alex Adamson tipped the ball precariously away from the line.
Many on both sides of the pool became extremely vocal, claiming that the shot crossed the line, but the head referee did not agree, and the save stuck.
Seconds later, the Lady Islanders drove the length of the pool and Sabrina Anonas beat Lady Knights goalie Eichenfield to break the tie and give Coronado a lead they would not relinquish throughout the rest of the contest.
Alexander did her best to keep the Lady Knights in the contest late with three goals, the last coming in the fourth quarter.
“I thought that my girls played with a tremendous amount of heart and patience,” Peabody continued. “We had a great game plan, but Coronado played great and worked hard and they won the game.”
“I am proud of my girls,” Peabody continued. “It’s hard to stay on top when you’ve won four straight and Coronado has been fighting to get one for a long time, so congratulations to them.”