Breakers on path to league title

The Laguna Beach High girls’ water polo team clinched at least a share of the Orange Coast League championship Wednesday by cruising past visiting Estancia, 23-4.

The Breakers ran out to a 12-3 lead in the first quarter, and went on to shut out the Eagles in the second half.

Twelve Breakers scored led by four goals apiece from freshman attacker Sophie Leggett and senior center Keira Dailey, and three from senior attacker Haley Evans. Leggett and junior attacker Bella Baldridge (two goals) both had four assists, and Baldridge had a team-high five steals. Senior Holly Parker and sophomore Thea Walsh combined for seven saves in goal.

The win put the Breakers, ranked No. 2 in CIF Southern Section Division 1, at 18-2 overall. They are 3-0 in league play with only a 3 p.m. game Monday at Saddleback remaining.

In a nonleague game Saturday at Riverside Poly High, the Breakers defeated ML King, 10-4.

Leggett led the scoring with four goals with Baldridge right behind with three goals. Senior attacker Natalie Selin and sophomore attackers Evan Tingler and Sophia Lucas also scored. Selin also had a team-high four steals, Parker had three saves and two assists, and Haley Evans had two assists.

ML King is the No. 2 team in CIF-SS Division 3.

“We had a long week with finals going on at the high school, so it was good to get a game under our belts,” Laguna Coach Ethan Damato said of Saturday’s contest. “The girls played well defensively, as usual, and did some great things as a unit. We also saw some areas to improve on moving forward.”

The Breakers are competing Friday through Saturday at the Irvine Southern California Women’s Water Polo Championships. The 32-team tournament, which started Thursday, is being played at three different sites (William Woollett Jr. Aquatic Center, Foothill High, Corona del Mar High). The Breakers are the top seed in Pool A (Woollett Dive Pool) which also includes Mater Dei, Murrieta Valley, Arroyo Grande, Coronado, Laguna Hills, Irvine and Long Beach Cabrillo.

The other top seeds for the tournament are Foothill (No 3 Division 1, Foothill pool), San Marcos (No. 4 Division 1, Corona del Mar Pool), and Dos Pueblos (No. 5 Division 1, Irvine Comp Pool).

The tournament concludes with action at all four pools Saturday. The semifinals (starting at 10 a.m.), and placement games leading up to the 3:15 p.m. championship game, will be played in the Irvine Dive Pool.

Laguna is the defending champion.

“This weekend’s tournament is huge,” Damato said. “Being the last tournament of the year, it will have a big impact on the [CIF] rankings going into the playoffs. We are playing well and excited to get out there and try to get to another final.”

The Breakers complete their regular season on Tuesday, hosting Murrieta Valley, the top-ranked team in CIF-SS Division 2, in a 3:15 p.m. nonleague game.

—

Girls’ Soccer

A limited Breakers squad was in Orange Coast League action Tuesday at Guyer Field, and battled visiting Costa Mesa to a scoreless tie.

The Breakers, hit by injury and illness and down to one reserve player for the match, dominated play in the field and had three shots hit the crossbar of the goal. Coach Bill Rolfing said two apparent goals for the Breakers were wiped off by “interference” calls.

Despite the tie, the Breakers, ranked No. 8 in CIF-SS Division 5, picked up a point in the league standings and remained in the hunt for a league title with an eye on a CIF playoff berth.

Tuesday’s result left the Breakers at 5-1-1 in league and 10-4-3 overall. They trailed fourth-ranked and league-leading Calvary Chapel by one point, and were two points in front of third-place Estancia, in the league standings heading into game action Thursday.

The score from Thursday’s Laguna-Saddleback game wasn’t available at press time.

“We must use this match to ‘step up’ play for the final three matches,” Rolfing said.

In a league game Jan. 28 at Guyer Field, the Breakers blanked Godinez, 1-0, to complete a league sweep (2-0) this year against the Grizzlies. They scored early on a long drive by Greer Jacobs. The Godinez defense mishandled the clearance and the ball sailed into the back of the net. Veteran goalie Kara Dunne-Dombrink held off a strong second-half charge by Godinez to protect the shutout.

The Breakers control their own destiny in league play. The title will be decided next week when they visit Estancia for a 5 p.m. game Monday, and return to Guyer Field for a 5 p.m. showdown Wednesday against Calvary Chapel.

“Unfortunate injuries will require shuffling players into new positions and this is normally not the time to be making those changes,” Rolfing said. “Regardless, the squad will have to rely on playing an aggressive, team-style soccer to succeed.”

—

Boys’ Soccer

The Breakers were on the short end of a pair of one-goal games in Orange Coast League play in the past week.

Wednesday at Guyer Field, they lost a 1-0 game to visiting Costa Mesa at Guyer Field. The outcome left the Breakers at 0-5-2 in league and 2-6-6 overall.

“This game, unfortunately, sums up our entire league season,” Coach Dan Richards said. “We haven’t done a good enough job of taking our chances when it matters while also making crucial mental errors at the back. This was yet another close game where we have ended up on the wrong side of the score line. The team hasn’t been able to find that winning mentality which had been the root of our success over the past few seasons.

“Of course, it is very disappointing that the program won’t be making the playoffs for the first time in five seasons but the team simply hasn’t done enough to deserve a spot and we can’t blame anyone but ourselves.”

In a league game Jan. 29, the Breakers trailed league front runner Godinez, 1-0 at the half but played on even terms in the second half but the visiting Grizzlies, the top-ranked team in CIF-SS Division 4, were able to post a 2-1 victory.

Senior defender/midfielder Charlie Warner scored Laguna’s goal off an assist from junior forward/midfielder Bruce Knill.

“I was very happy with how the boys competed in this game,” Richards said. “Godinez is a great team and both their goals were of the highest quality. The boys did well battling back and putting Godinez under pressure in the second half. We were able to take them out of their rhythm and make them panic for a sustained period after the break which is no mean feat against such a talented and organized group. Ultimately, their class told and they deserved the win, especially for their dominance of the first half.”

—

CIF Weekly Rankings

Girls’ Water Polo: No. 2, Division 1.

Girls’ Soccer: No. 8, Division 5.