More tests await Breakers

The Laguna Beach High boys’ water polo team passed its first test of the 2012 season.

The Breakers began their new campaign — one that has them as a member of CIF Southern Section Division 2 this year — Sept. 7 on the road at Villa Park. The opener was a meeting between two teams ranked in the Division 2 preseason poll, and it was the No. 4 Breakers who emerged with a 14-9 victory over the No. 8 Spartans.

Laguna led, 8-5 at the half, and used a 4-0 second-half run to grab control.

Jack Dodson led the Breakers in scoring with four goals. Riley Thomas scored three times and both Caleb Scott and Aki Andersen scored twice. Camron Hauer had five assists and four steals, Dodson, Thomas and Scott each had three assists, and Maxx McCarter had 17 saves.

“I thought it was a typical first game in the sense that there were a lot of mistakes made by both sides,” Laguna Coach Ethan Damato said. “That said, I thought we did do a lot of good things. I thought our defense looked really good at times, and I thought our counter-attack looked good all game. It was a good start.”

The Breakers departed Thursday for the Santa Barbara area where they were to play five games over three days. They started with a Thursday match against the top-ranked team in Division 2, Agoura, and begin play Friday at the Santa Barbara Tournament. Both Laguna and Agoura are part of the 16-team field.

Laguna is in the B Bracket of the tournament and is No. 3 in a four-team pool that includes Loyola, Miramonte (Northern California), and Dos Pueblos. Loyola is ranked third in Division 1, Miramonte is one of the top-rated teams in Northern California and Dos Pueblos is ranked sixth in Division 2.

The Breakers open against Miramonte at 1 p.m. Friday. They’ll also play a second match Friday against either Loyola or Dos Pueblos.

Mater Dei, the No. 1-ranked team in Division 1, is the overall No. 1-seed for the tournament.

“It’s a great tournament,” Damato said. “There are 16 very good teams in it, from Orange County, to San Diego, and L.A. to Northern California. We will play four really good games at the tournament, no matter what. At the same time, it’s fun to be able to play against teams of this caliber. We’ll be tested all weekend.”

Following the trip north, the Breakers head back into tournament play when they compete at the South Coast-Newport Harbor Varsity Tournament, starting Thursday. The tournament runs through Sept. 22.

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Girls’ Volleyball

The Breakers, the top-ranked team in CIF Division 1-A, dropped their first match of the season when they were edged Thursday, 25-20, 25-21, 25-22, by Newport Harbor. The Sailors (2-1) are ranked No. 4 in Division 1-AA.

Laguna (3-1) led the first set but Newport closed with a 5-0 run to win the set. Alyse Ford had 17 kills and seven digs, Julia Goggin nine digs and Sevana Dvorak 26 assists for the Breakers.

On Saturday, Laguna scored a 25-23, 25-20, 25-21 sweep of visiting Santiago of Corona. Ford had 27 kills and 11 digs, Francie Holte nine digs and Dvorak 38 assists.

The Breakers are idle until Tuesday when they visit rival Corona del Mar for a 6:45 p.m. nonleague match. The Sea Kings are ranked No. 8 in Division 1-AA.

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Girls’ Golf

The Breakers took on Aliso Niguel on Tuesday at Aliso Viejo Country Club (par 35) and fell, 200-275, to the Wolverines. Laguna’s top scorer was captain Jackie McMahon, who turned in one of her lowest scores, a 45. Joo Seo of Aliso Niguel was the medalist for the match with a one over par 36.

Other scorers for Laguna (0-2) included Leslie Dwight (53), MaryKate Quellmalz (55), Audrey Curtis (60), Jamie Hendrickson (62), and Hailey Quigley (67).

“Each year we schedule tougher teams for our preleague schedule, and this year is no different,” Laguna assistant coach Sean Quigley said. “Aliso Niguel is a top-10 team in Orange County and we knew going into the match that their overall skill and depth was likely too great to overcome.

“So, we wanted the girls on our team to focus on their course management and hole strategies so they can continue to improve on their decision making. In addition, it again gives our girls the opportunity to see some good golf so that each of them can learn where they need to improve in order to compete successfully with other high school players in the county.”

The Breakers play two matches next week. On Monday, they’ll take on Sage Hill at Strawberry Farms Golf Club in Irvine. They host Aliso Niguel on Wednesday at Aliso Creek Golf Course. Both matches start at 2:30 p.m.

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Girls’ Tennis

The Breakers are 3-1 after the first two weeks of the season.

Laguna bounced back from its first loss of the season Sept. 5 at Edison to score a 13-5 win Sept. 6 home win against Mission Viejo. Breakers Coach Don Davis, whose team was playing without No. 1 singles player Brooke Michaels (sprained ankle in Edison match), got a sweep from No. 2 singles Bailey Jaeger, who won by scores of 6-4, 6-4, 7-5. Kira Hamilton, at No. 1 singles, won two of three sets (6-3, 6-1).

The team of Dominique Willette and Chloe Mansour earned a sweep at No. 1 doubles, winning, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3. The Breakers won seven of nine sets in doubles play. The No. 3 team of Katelyn Bo and Natasha Keces (6-2, 6-3) and No. 3 team of Olivia Morrison and Madeline Loomis (7-6, 64) won two of three sets.

In the Sept. 5 match at Edison, the Breakers and Chargers played to a 9-9 tie, but the Chargers won on games, 78-73.

The Breakers begin defense of their Orange Coast League title when they open league play at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Saddleback. They also play at 3 p.m. Thursday at Estancia.

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Girls’ Cross-Country

The Breakers opened their new season Saturday and turned in a strong performance at the 48th annual Laguna Hills Invitational. Livie Clark posted the top time for the Breakers at 19 minutes, 29 seconds.

“I thought the girls ran great on Saturday,” Laguna Coach Steve Lalim said. “It was a fantastic start to the season. Now we just need to continue to work and continue to improve. It’s looking to be a very good year.”

Laguna times: Livie Clark (19:29); Janie Crawford (20:16); Carlee Ressler (20:27); Audrey Rodriguez (20:37); Pearl Shoemaker (20:56); Katie Grayden (21:14); Eliza Romero (21:21); Maddy Kristensen (21:25); Natalie Kimball (21:31); Amy Hewlett (21:43); Julia Nasiell (22:26); Ariel Carlson (22:27); Monica White (22:31); Annie Brown (22:34); Rachel Hunter (24:50); Anika Larsen (24:56); Makena Pitz (24:57); Rachel Young (25:44); Andrea Gossett (26:22); Christine Eidt (29:26).

The Breakers run in the rated race Saturday at the Woodbridge Invitational.

michael.sciacca@latimes.com

Twitter: @MikeSciacca