Laguna Beach wants to thrive in underdog role
The Laguna Beach High boys’ water polo team has made deep playoff runs more often than most.
Even with that being the case, the team is taking nothing for granted.
How could it?
Only last year, the Breakers suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Capistrano Valley, conceding the winning goal in the waning seconds of their semifinal contest.
Looking back on that game, sophomore attacker Colton Gregory referred to the defeat as “one of the lowest moments” of his life.
The Breakers have worked all season to put the loss behind them, and now, they will have the chance.
After successfully navigating their CIF Southern Section Division 2 semifinal against Murrieta Valley, the Breakers are back on the stage that teams dream about.
Laguna Beach will square off with Santa Margarita at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday in the CIF-SS Finals at the Woollett Aquatics Center in Irvine.
In their lone meeting earlier this season, the Breakers defeated Santa Margarita, 9-8, in a double-overtime thriller. Larsen McCarroll and Sebastian Jacobs had two goals each.
The goaltending matchup will be one to watch. Laguna Beach’s Gordon Pike made 14 saves in the Sept. 20 game. Noah Hodge blocked 15 shots for the Eagles (25-6).
“I think their goalie and ours are the two top goalies in the division,” Breakers coach Trevor Lyle said. “I think that’s why we are where we’re at right now. When your defense breaks down, your goalie, that last line of defense, makes some big saves for you.”
The Breakers (21-9) are competing for their second title in three years. They beat Montebello for the 2014 crown.
Going undefeated against Division 2 teams in the regular season earned the Breakers the top seed, but it hasn’t made them overconfident.
They still see themselves as the underdog going into Saturday’s game, but they have thrived in that role. Laguna Beach has reached the final despite injuries to Joe Laptin (shoulder) and Kai Cameron (fractured hand).
Add another injury to that list, as Jacobs, an All-CIF utility player, was struck in the neck during Wednesday’s semifinal.
“We’re still hoping that he might be able to make the recovery, but that is something that will be discussed with many different parties [on Friday],” Lyle said.
The Breakers and their coach are no stranger to adversity. Lyle’s wife, Allyson, was diagnosed with breast cancer over four years ago. The team is playing the season in her honor.
“The team wants to win this championship for many reasons,” Lyle said of the challenges the Breakers’ family has been through. “A lot of people are writing us off, and they’ve been writing us off since the beginning of the season.”
“We just keep putting our heads down, working hard, and finding ways to win.”
CIF-SS Division 2 Championship Game
Who’s Playing: Laguna Beach (21-9) vs. Santa Margarita (25-6)
Where/When: Saturday, 2:30 p.m. at William Woollett Aquatics Center
Fan Info: Tickets are $10 for adults. High school students with valid ID and children (13 and under) are $5. Prices are per session.
Championships Schedule
10 a.m. – San Juan Hills vs. Burroughs/Burbank (Division 5)
11:30 a.m. – Shadow Hills vs. Chaffey (Division 7)
1 p.m. – Oaks Christian vs. Aliso Niguel (Division 3)
2:30 p.m. – Laguna Beach vs. Santa Margarita (Division 2)
4 p.m. – Xavier Prep vs. Roosevelt (Division 6)
5:45 p.m. – Huntington Beach vs. Orange Lutheran (Division 1)
7 p.m. – Yucaipa vs. Royal (Division 4)
