Codinis Lead Artists to Victory at Cypress

In a wild-card matchup neither team wanted, Laguna Beach jumped to an early lead and defeated Cypress, 7-4, in a Southern Section Division IV girls’ water polo playoff game Wednesday at Cypress High.

Tina Codini scored three goals and her sister Teresa had two to help Laguna Beach (18-9), co-champion of the Pacific Coast League, advance to Saturday’s first round to play Freeway League co-champion Sonora.

Cypress, the Empire League runner-up, ended 17-11.

“It’s a shame because Cypress is better than a lot of teams that are still playing,” Laguna Beach Coach Rick Scott said. “I felt bad for whichever team lost because they probably deserve to be in the quarterfinals.”

The final Division IV poll had Laguna Beach ranked sixth and Cypress ninth. Earlier this season, Laguna Beach defeated Cypress twice by one goal, including an 8-7 overtime victory.

“It’s kind of a bummer to have to play them again in a wild card,” Cypress Coach Matt Slevcove said. “But [to win a championship] you have to win these games anyway.”

Laguna Beach posted its ninth consecutive victory behind an aggressive defense that forced 14 turnovers and limited Cypress to only six shots in the first half.

Thirty-six seconds into the second quarter, Cypress’ Neisha Hoagland scored off a rebound to tie it, 1-1. But Cypress managed only one more shot for the remainder of the quarter and Laguna Beach’s defense began triggering an effective counterattack.

Tina Codini, Laura Case and Teresa Codini scored goals in a two-minute span to push Laguna Beach’s lead to 4-1. Then a steal by Christine Bowen eventually led to another counterattack goal from Annalee Hagood-Earl to give the Artists a 5-1 halftime cushion.

Michelle Slevcove scored her second goal with 5 minutes 31 seconds remaining to pull Cypress to within 6-3, but the Centurions never drew any closer.