This just in: Laguna Beach girls’ water polo team still great

The top spot.

Until someone stops the Laguna Beach High girls’ water polo team, that’s where the Breakers will reside.

Laguna begins the 2015-16 season with a preseason ranking of No. 1 in CIF Southern Section Division 1. It’s easy to put the Breakers there, seeing as how they are the division’s two-time champion. They went 31-0 in a record-setting season last year, have gone 60-1 the past two seasons, and bring a 52-game winning streak (Orange County record) into the new season.

They have been perfect in Orange Coast League play the past nine years, as well.

Yes, No. 1 seems a given and with another talented squad including five returning starters on hand for Coach Ethan Damato, who is in his eighth year, things appear in place for another run toward a section championship.

“This year’s team is an exciting combination of experience and youth,” Damato said. “We are anchored by an amazing group of seniors and juniors who have a ton of experience and know what it takes for our team to be successful. In addition, our sophomores and freshmen are a hungry and talented group excited to step into their roles this year.

“I think some keys to our season this year will rest on our ability to be unselfish and to be a stronger unit than our opponent.”

The Breakers open their season at home Thursday (4 p.m.) against Rosary. Also during a nonleague stretch that includes matchups with highly ranked opponents, they will compete in three major events, called the “Triple Crown” of girls’ prep water polo tournaments: Newport Harbor/Corona del Mar Holiday Cup, Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions, and the Irvine Southern California Championships. The program has won all three tournaments in each of the past two years.

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Laguna Beach Girls’ Water Polo

Head coach: Ethan Damato (8th year)

Coaching staff: Trevor Lyle, Nathan McConnell.

CIF Division: 1

Last year’s record: 31-0

Last year’s league finish: 4-0 (champion)

2015 CIF results: Division 1 champion

Varsity roster: Holly Parker (G, Sr.); Thea Walsh (G, Soph.); Alana Evans (ATT, Soph.); Haley Evans (ATT, Sr.); Isabel Riches (UTL, Soph.); Angelique Begay (ATT, Jr.); Natalie Selin (ATT, Sr.); Sophie Legget (ATT, Fr.); Sophia Lucas (ATT, Sr.); Ally Jochim (DEF, Sr.); Mia Salvini (UTL, Sr.); Evan Tingler (ATT, Soph.); Bella Baldridge (LH ATT, Jr.); Danielle Borelli (C, Soph.); Keira Dailey (C, Sr.); Gabi Beran (DEF, Sr.); Claire Sonne (ATT, Jr.).

Returning starters: Holly Parker, Haley Evans, Bella Baldridge, Mia Salvini, Natalie Selin.

The schedule: It’s a tough one, but the Breakers relish the matchups.

“We have a great schedule filled with big tests each week and some of the best tournaments in Southern California,” Damato said. “O-Lu (Orange Lutheran), Foothill and CdM (Corona del Mar), will be some of our biggest games of the year. All three tournaments (Newport Harbor Holiday Cup, Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions, Irvine SoCal Championships), should be tough.”

Season opener: Thursday (4 p.m.) vs. Rosary

CIF-SS Preseason Division 1 Rankings: 1. Laguna Beach; 2. Foothill; 3. Orange Lutheran; 4. San Marcos; 5. Corona del Mar; 6. Dos Pueblos; 7. Mater Dei; 8. Newport Harbor; 9. Santa Barbara; 10. Los Alamitos.

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Schedule

Thursday: Rosary, 4 p.m.

Dec. 8: Edison, 3:30 p.m.

Dec. 15: vs. Los Alamitos (6:15 p.m., Capo Valley High)

Dec. 19: vs. Orange Lutheran (TBA, Santa Margarita High)

Dec. 23: at Newport Harbor, 10 a.m.

Dec. 29-30: at Newport Harbor Holiday Cup (TBA)

Jan. 7: at Foothill, 4 p.m.

Jan. 13: at *Godinez, 3:15 p.m.

Jan. 14: at Dos Pueblos, 7 p.m.

Jan. 14-16: at Santa Barbara Tournament (TBA)

Jan. 20: *Costa Mesa, 3:15 p.m.

Jan. 23: at Corona del Mar, 10 a.m.

Jan. 27: at *Saddleback, 3:15 p.m.

Jan. 30: at San Marcos, 1 p.m.

Feb. 3: *Estancia, 3:15 p.m.

Feb. 4-6: Irvine SoCal Championships (TBA)

Feb. 9: Murrieta Valley, 3:30 p.m.

(*denotes league game)