Laguna chases perfection

The Laguna Beach High girls’ water polo team set up a big finish to the regular season Wednesday by winning again in Orange Coast League play.

The Breakers took on host Godinez at Santa Ana Valley High, and shut out the Grizzlies, 22-0. Eleven Breakers reached the scoring column with junior Makenzie Fischer’s five goals leading the way. Freshman Bella Baldridge and junior Taylor Julson had five and four assists, respectively.

The win put top-ranked Laguna at 3-0 in league and 19-1 overall. It also helped the Breakers maintain a one-game lead in the OCL standings with one league game to play.

“Godinez is a young team who is rebuilding a bit this year,” Laguna Coach Ethan Damato said. “We slowed the game down and tried to work on our front court offense, releasing and pressure passing. The girls had fun and did a good job. “

In a nonleague game Jan. 31 at Laguna, the Breakers downed eighth-ranked San Marcos, 17-7. Aria Fischer led the scoring with five goals and Makenzie Fischer and Cara Borkovec both scored four goals. Baldridge scored once and led the team in assists with five. Holly Parker had five saves and four steals.

“The girls and I felt like we were really off all game but somehow were up on a good San Marcos team, 9-1 at half,” Damato said. “It was a weird day. The girls had some great moments and we obviously didn’t have a hard time scoring.

“San Marcos’ set plays, picks and movement gave us problems defensively and put us in a scramble mode. They are a good, young team that will be good for years to come.”

The Breakers currently are playing at the 32-team Southern California Women’s Water Polo Championships at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatic Center in Irvine. The tournament, which began Thursday , continues Friday and concludes Saturday . The championship game is slated 3 p.m. at the Woollett Center (Comp pool).

“[Thursday] is where things start to get tough, playing in the Irvine SoCal Championships,” Damato said. “Two games tonight, one Friday, and two Saturday. CIF rankings are on the line for the final time for us. We are more than excited. “

The Breakers will go after a perfect OCL season, and eighth consecutive league title (two as co-head coach) under Damato, Wednesday when they play host to Costa Mesa at 3:15 p.m. The Mustangs are a game out of first place.

Laguna concludes its regular season Feb. 14 with a 3:15 p.m. nonleague game at El Toro.

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Signings

Four Laguna Beach High student-athletes signed a National Letter of Intent during a National Signing Day Wednesday event held on campus.

The student-athletes signing were: Cara Borkovec (girls’ water polo, USC), Jack Wyett (boys’ volleyball, USC), Preston GrandPre (baseball, Cal Berkeley), and Anya Miller (rowing, Stanford).

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CIF Weekly Rankings

Girls’ water polo: Laguna Beach (No. 1, Division 1).