Breakers are ‘finding their identity’ after impressive week
The Laguna Beach High boys’ water polo team did quite well for itself in the past week, despite facing some stiff competition.
Laguna started the three-game stretch Oct. 4 against Dana Hills, the No. 7-ranked team in Division 1. The Breakers, ranked fifth in CIF Southern Section Division 2, survived a three-overtime, nonleague thriller against the Dolphins and won, 11-10. They came back Tuesday to take on Foothill, the second-ranked team in Division 2, and knocked off the Knights, 10-7. On Wednesday, they returned to Orange Coast League play and ran their league mark to 3-0 by overpowering host Estancia, 25-4.
Sixteen Breakers saw action against Estancia in a game where the Breakers bolted to a 14-0 lead after one quarter. Fourteen of those players scored, led by Rian Atherton with four goals. Camron Hauer, Duncan Lynde and Trent Sadler each scored three goals. Connor Hauer had four assists.
With the three wins, the Breakers extended their win streak to six.
“I think the guys are finding their identity, and we are figuring a way to win,” Laguna Coach Ethan Damato said. “It all came together in that Foothill game. We took a 5-1 lead and never looked back.
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Cross-Country
Both the boys’ and girls’ teams came up with top-five finishes Saturday at the Clovis Invitational at Woodward Park in Fresno.
The boys’ team, ranked sixth in Division 4, finished in fifth place in the team standings. Jack Crawford led the Laguna contingent with a third-place finish (16 minutes, 18 seconds). G
The girls’ team, ranked third in the Southern Section and fifth in the state in Division 4, finished second among 15 teams.
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Girls’ Golf
The Breakers dropped Orange Coast League matches this week to Estancia and Calvary Chapel, and closed out the previous week with a win against Costa Mesa. The results put the Breakers at 4-4 in league and 4-8 overall.
On Monday, Estancia posted a 210-263 win over Laguna at Mesa Linda Golf Course (par 35) in Costa Mesa. The Breakers were without No. 2 player Mary Kate Quellmalz (illness), but first-year player Audrey Curtis came through to lead the Breakers with a 45.
“She works diligently in practice and her hard work is starting to pay off in the matches,” Laguna assistant coach Sean Quigley said. “In addition, we got a pleasant surprise from another new golfer, junior Mandi Wisbaum. She not only played in her first match for us, she was also playing one of her first rounds ever for a score.”
Wisbaum scored a 59, which counted in Laguna’s team score.
On Tuesday, Laguna lost, 238-252, to Calvary Chapel at Mile Square Park Golf Course (par 34) in Fountain Valley.
In a league match Oct. 3 at Mesa Linda Golf Course (par 35), Dwight shot a 41 to pace the Breakers in a 225-327 win over Costa Mesa.
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Girls’ Tennis
The Breakers, ranked fifth in Division 2, turned in a solid week and capped it with a near perfect run at their own tournament Saturday.
In previous action, Laguna upped its Orange Coast League record to 6-0 by dominating Costa Mesa, 17-1, on Oct. 2, and Saddleback, 18-0, on Oct. 4. Two players from the Laguna junior varsity team — Ashley Fair and Jackie Cenan — saw playing time in the two wins. Fair picked up two points in singles play for the Breakers against Costa Mesa, and teamed with Cenan to score two points in doubles play against Saddleback.
The Breakers hosted the first Laguna Beach Invitational Tournament on Oct. 5-6. The varsity team was split into two teams for the tournament, which also included Aliso Niguel and El Toro. Eight singles sets and four doubles sets were played Oct. 5, and six singles and three doubles sets were played Saturday. All sets were played as eight game pro sets.
Laguna Beach No. 1 hosted Aliso Niguel and defeated the Wolverines, 8-4, and Laguna Beach No. 2 played at El Toro and defeated the Chargers, 7-5, on the first day of the event.
On Saturday on the Laguna courts, Laguna No. 1 blanked El Toro, 9-0, and Laguna No. 2 was defeated, 5-4, by Aliso Niguel.
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Girls’ Volleyball
Laguna collected two more wins in Orange Coast League play to extend its win streak in league matches to 61.
On Wednesday, the Breakers (11-5, 6-0 in league) cruised past Saddleback, 25-4, 25-12, 25-9. Alyse Ford had 16 kills and six digs in the victory.
Monday at Costa Mesa, the Breakers breezed by the Mustangs, 25-8, 25-1, 25-8. Julia Goggin and Ford both had six kills to lead the way.
The Breakers will take part Saturday in the eighth annual Steve Lewis Memorial Volleyfest at Lakewood High.
Twitter: @MikeSciacca