Cif

NEWPORT COAST — In the visiting stands at Sage Hill School, a man kept yelling, "Ánimo!" Ánimo was the boys' soccer team Sage Hill played in the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division 6 playoffs on Wednesday. Ánimo is a Spanish word meaning to have courage. There is no doubt the school from Inglewood played with a lot spirit on the field, especially on the offensive end. Sage Hill first-year coach Luis Turcios said he was well aware that Ánimo was a top-notch team that could score goals in bunches.

IRVINE - The late UCLA men's basketball coach John Wooden is quoted as saying, "The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team. " Some people outside of the team, fairly or unfairly, have called the Corona del Mar High girls' water polo team a team of individuals at points this season. The Sea Kings, struggling to find their chemistry at times, never made it to the finals of any of the three in-season tournaments. But CdM Coach Sam Bailey, a UCLA alumnus, believes in the legendary Wooden and his "Pyramid of Success.

CORONA DEL MAR - You bet Coach Ryan Schachter was familiar with Corona del Mar High's opponent on Tuesday. He coached against the school when he broke into the coaching business 15 years ago. There was no way he forgot about Santa Barbara San Marcos. His wife, Crystal, went to the school. "She was going to come in red and blue," said Schachter, referring to San Marcos' school colors. "She's like, 'I'm not rooting for you.' I don't mind. I told her she'd go home a loser. " Crystal never made it to CdM's gym. Schachter said she stayed home with their two kids, who are dealing with the stomach flu. If she had attended the game, she wouldn't have stomached the result.

COSTA MESA - The rain never materialized Tuesday afternoon at Jim Scott Stadium, but a brisk wind played a role in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 second-round girls' soccer playoff match. Host Corona del Mar played north to south in the first half, with the wind, but never took the lead. In the second half, visiting Esperanza made sure the Sea Kings' hopes were just gone with the wind. Aztecs senior midfielder Nosa Ogiamien scored in the 62nd minute as CdM was shocked, 1-0, in a season-ending loss.

CORONA DEL MAR - As she walked off the pool deck at Corona del Mar High on Saturday, freshman Maddie Musselman went past Los Alamitos Coach Dave Carlson. The Sea Kings had just beaten Carlson's Griffins, 7-5, in a CIF Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinal match. The longtime Los Al coach wanted to pay Musselman a compliment. "Are you the freshman?" Carlson asked Musselman, who replied, "Yeah," a bit sheepishly. "You play like a senior," Carlson said. Musselman stepped up with two goals for CdM. Senior Stephania Haralabidis also scored twice and had two nice assists in the fourth quarter, to senior Genevieve Weed and junior Marina Coskinas.

COSTA MESA - Jackie Hubbard spent last year at Edison High. She didn't play soccer at the school. She never played in high school until this season, when she transferred to Estancia. "It was just way too competitive," Hubbard said of soccer at her former school. "It wasn't really about fun. "It's just like a better experience [at Estancia]. " Coach Jessica Perry has sweetened the deal for players like Hubbard at Estancia. On Valentine's Day, Hubbard and her teammates received candy from Perry.

COSTA MESA - Two proud girls' soccer programs met on the pitch Thursday afternoon at Jim Scott Stadium. Corona del Mar is trying to win its first CIF Southern Section title in the sport. Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos won the Division 2 title last year before being moved up to Division 1. It was just a first-round match, but the Sea Kings knew Los Osos, an at-large entry from the Baseline League, would be tough. "Even first-round games, there's no gimmes in Division 1 girls' soccer," CdM Coach Bryan Middleton said.

COSTA MESA - The goal is looking awfully big right now for Estancia High boys' soccer player Cristian Gomez. The Eagles as a team also have big goals for the CIF Southern Section Division 5 playoffs. Gomez continued his torrid scoring pace Wednesday night at Jim Scott Stadium. The senior striker recorded his second hat trick of the season as Estancia blanked visiting Brentwood, 3-0, in a Division 5 wild-card match. Estancia dominated on the pitch. The dangerous Eagles advanced to the first round, where they will play at Hacienda League champion Los Altos on Friday.

The Corona del Mar High and Newport Harbor girls' water polo teams won easily on Wednesday and continued on their quest to meet in the title match of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs. Costa Mesa lost and was eliminated in the first round of Division 1. * GIRLS' WATER POLO Corona del Mar 17, Ventura 4 CORONA DEL MAR - Senior Stephania Haralabidis had five goals, two assists and three steals for the Sea Kings in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 first-round match Wednesday at CdM. Seniors Ally McCormick and Ioanna Haralabidis each scored three goals for No. 3-seeded CdM (24-4)

CORONA DEL MAR - Around this time of the season, Coach Ryan Schachter calls up players to join the Corona del Mar High boys' basketball team. They have names most fans haven't heard of all season, names the PA announcer has never uttered during a varsity game. Rarely do these players from the lower-level programs get to play around this time of the season, in the CIF Southern Section playoffs. That changed Wednesday in the Sea Kings' Division 3-AA first-round game. Four youngsters entered with six minutes left to play against Rancho Alamitos.