AT A GLANCE / Girls’ Water Polo

* The Proven: Senior Kristyn Pulver, a two-time Century League player of the year, has been a force since her freshman year. It will be her last shot at a section title. . . . Rosary’s Natalie Golda didn’t start out as a water polo player, but two section titles later, the all-county softball standout has committed to play water polo at UCLA next season. . . . Marina junior Cara Chlebicki is one of the county’s toughest defenders, but she’s a good scorer too. She even played some at goalie for the Vikings last season.

* The Promising: Capistrano Valley Aimee Stachowski is just one of the jewels in the highly touted freshman class. With her and sister Amber, a junior, the Cougars might not miss 1999 player of the year Ashley Stachowski, now at UCLA. . . . Capistrano Valley freshman goalie Meridith McColl should also make an immediate impact. . . . Santa Margarita freshmen Erica Figge is McColl’s teammate on the Trabuco Aquatics Program team that won the 14-and-under division of the Junior Olympics last summer.

* Preseason Top 10: 1. Newport Harbor--Kyndra Cox leads the defending Southern Section Division I champion; 2. Villa Park--Fast, disciplined team should challenge for Division I title; 3. Foothill--Mix of the old and new boosts Knights into the county elite; 4. Santa Margarita--Jamie Kroeze and Eagles should rise; 5. Capistrano Valley--Talented freshmen will give the Cougars a lift; 6. Marina--Returners Erin Wilson and Kendra Shanley also started for ’98 Division I champs; 7. Esperanza--Should challenge Marina for Sunset title. 8. Rosary--Royals seek a third consecutive section title; 9. El Toro--Will battle Capistrano Valley for South Coast supremacy; 10. Irvine--Goalie Kelly Graff anchors Vaqueros.

* Key Dates: Dec. 9-11, Villa Park tournament; Jan. 6-8, Newport Harbor-Corona del Mar tournament; Feb. 3-5, Irvine tournament; Feb. 17, 22, 24, Southern Section playoffs; Feb. 28, 29, Southern Section finals.

* League Favorites: Century--Villa Park; Empire--Cypress; Freeway--Sonora; Golden West--Tustin; Orange--Brea Olinda; Pacific Coast--University; Sea View--Newport Harbor; South Coast--Capistrano Valley; Sunset--Marina.

* Fast Fact: Between their workouts with the U.S. men’s national team, Drew Netherton, formerly of USC, and teammate Brent Albright are the new coaches at Marina.