Breakers earn No. 4 seed in playoffs
Having moved up -- way up -- in division competition for the 2002
girls’ tennis season, Laguna Beach High began its quest Thursday to
win its first CIF Southern Section Division I playoff match.
The Breakers, who turned in an outstanding regular season in their
first year of Division I competition, placed second place in the
Pacific Coast League standings and earned the division’s No. 4 seed
in the team tournament.
They hosted Canyon, the No. 3 team out of the Century League, in a
first-round match on Thursday. A win there would send the Breakers
into a second round match on Saturday against the winner of
Thursday’s match between Westlake and Chaminade.
Scores from Thursday’s playoff action were not available at press
time.
Laguna Beach (16-4) is the four-time defending Division V
champion.
“There are eight teams in the division who look to be pretty
equal,” Laguna Beach coach Brian Ricker said of a stacked division
field that includes No. 1 seed Beverly Hills (two-time defending
Division III champion), second-seed Calabasas, four-time defending
Division I champion Peninsula and two-time defending Division IV
champion and third seed Corona del Mar, which edged Laguna Beach for
the PCL title.
One of Laguna Beach’s key victories this season was a 10-8
decision over Peninsula. Top-seed Beverly Hills also defeated the
Panthers by the same score.
In boys’ water polo, Laguna Beach, the No. 2 entry from the PCL,
played host Thursday to Capistrano Valley, the South Coast League’s
No. 3 team, in a Division I first round match.
The match will be a rematch of a September meeting between the two
schools. Laguna Beach came out on top, 8-7, in a match that went to
the wire.
The Breakers wrapped up PCL play late last week and claimed second
place in the process by dumping University, 15-9. Chris Stansbury
netted a game-best eight goals and Nich McConnell scored four to pace
Laguna Beach.
A victory against Capistrano Valley would send Laguna Beach into a
second-round match Saturday against potentially unbeaten Long Beach
Wilson.
The 27-0 Bruins, the division’s top seed and its defending
champion, hosted Loyola on Thursday.
Wilson is riding a 35-match win streak and should the Bruins get
past Loyola and Laguna Beach eliminate Capistrano Valley, the teams
would meet for the second time this season.
Back in late September at the South Coast Tournament, Laguna Beach
gave Wilson a tough battle before succumbing, 9-6.
Laguna Beach boys’ water polo is appearing in postseason play for
the 11th consecutive year.
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