Above: Gabby Pierandozzi scored four goals, but La Serna’s dream of advancing to its first CIF-SS finals ended with a 15-7 loss to Murrieta Valley on Wednesday. (Staff file photo by Leo Jarzomb)

GIRLS WATER POLO
SEMIFINALS
At Woollett Aquatic Center, Irvine
Division 3
No. 1 Murrieta Valley 15, La Serna 7
IRVINE — La Serna High School was hoping to make history Wednesday.
Murrieta Valley instead, showed its dominance.
Paige Virgil scored seven goals and Kayla Fedler had four to lead the Nighthawks to a 15-7 victory over La Serna in a CIF-Southern Section Division 3 semifinal at William Woollett Aquatic Center.
Murrieta Valley, also getting two goals from Megan Geurts adn eight saves from goalie Abby Goviea, improved to 23-6 and will face Arroyo Grande, a 7-6 winner over St. Lucy’s, in Saturday’s championship game, scheduled for Woollett Aquatic Center at 6 p.m.
Gabby Pierandozzi had four goals for La Serna, which finished 22-10. The Lancers were attempting to earn a spot in the finals since girls water polo was sanctioned by the CIF-SS in 1998.
La Serna coach Erin Brown: “I’m just so proud of the girls. They deserved to be here. It’s the first time in maybe, ever, that La Serna has made it to the semifinals. I think it’s an accomplishment in itself to be here today.”
Division 2
Mater Dei 13, Montebello 5
IRVINE — It would easy today for Montebello High School girls water polo coach David Keys to be disappointed after the Oilers lost in the CIF-Southern Section divisional final four for the second consecutive season.
But he prefers to look at that as more as a positive after top seed Mater Dei scored a 13-5 victory over No. 4 Montebello in a Division 2 semifinal Wednesday at the William Woollett Aquatic Center.
The Monarchs, getting four goals from Brianna Daboub and three from Makenzie Barr, improved to 26-4 and will face Corona Santiago, which beat Agoura, in Saturday’s championship game here at 3:20 p.m.
Montebello, which received two goals each from Unica Garcia and Syania Morales, finished 22-12.
Montebello coach David Keys: “It”s disappointing when you lose, regardless of which ever way you look at it. But these girls fought all year. I’m proud of them. We lost two good players (off last year’s team) and made it back to the semifinals.
“Nobody thought we could make it back, especially in Division 2, where it’s so competitive. But to reload and make it back, it’s an accomplishment.”