Old foes, familiar ending

Mike Sciacca

Forget the battle that had just taken place in the Belmont Plaza

Olympic Pool in Long Beach Monday night.

Perhaps the most poignant moment during the CIF-Southern Section

Division II championship final between Laguna Beach High and Pacific

Coast League rival Corona del Mar -- won, by the way, by the

top-ranked Sea Kings, 9-5 -- came during the congratulatory lineup

that followed poolside.

There were handshakes and genuine smiles and hugs, all around,

given, and taken, by both teams.

Away from the pool, though, a few Breakers players shared a few

tears and embraces, their disappointment in not winning the school’s

first CIF-SS title since 2001, evident.

But these two squads know each other quite well, and the respect

for each other is mutual.

They met a total of three times during the 2004-05 season -- each

meeting won by Corona del Mar -- and played each other several times

during summer ball.

The after match scene Monday truly defined what sportsmanship is

about.

“When elite athletes play each other over and over again, they

develop not only a respect, but also a bond, with one another,”

Laguna coach Rick McKee said. “You develop an appreciation for your

opponent’s skills and abilities.

“It has been and will continue to be a great rivalry, especially

when we beat them next year!”

Monday at Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool, the No. 2-seed Breakers gave

the No. 1-seed Sea Kings quite a run for the title.

Laguna trailed, 2-1, after one quarter, but found itself in a 5-1

hole by halftime.

But by showing its character and displaying a tremendous defensive

effort in the third quarter, the Breakers were able to outscore the

Sea Kings, 3-1.

That made it a 6-4 game, heading into the final quarter.

“I am very proud of the way we played,” McKee said. “We came out

with a solid game plan and for the most part, it worked. The girls

played like the champions that they are.

“I define character as who you are when no one is watching. The

girls came back in the third quarter because they have worked so hard

for so long in practice, when no one was watching them.”

Corona del Mar shut down Laguna in the final quarter and went on

to a 9-5 victory.

The title match capped a 20-7 season for the Breakers, who

accomplished plenty of goals they had set for themselves at the

outset of the season.

“I’m really proud of this team,” said Laguna driver Kat Gordon,

who scored two goals. “One of our main goals was to play for the CIF

title, and we did that. We pulled together this season and really

played well as a team. It was such an awesome, cool experience to

play in the big game. I have watched championship games at Belmont in

the past. Now, I know what it feels like to be in the title game.”

In addition to Gordon’s pair of scores, Addison Doud scored twice

and Jessica McKee scored once.

Alana Thomson had seven saves.

Junior Camille Hewko scored a match-high four goals for Corona del

Mar (24-7), which won its fourth consecutive Southern Section title.

“We played really hard but I give CdM a lot of credit,” Gordon

said. “They play hard and are clean, skilled players.

“We’ve played them many times and we’re used to each other. We get

along well and it’s a great rivalry. I have a lot of respect for

them.”

Gordon, Doud and Thomson are part of a Breakers’ senior class that

includes attackers Alison Wallis, Megan Vick and Dena Berkson.

“Take away any of these girls, we would not have done what we did

this year,” Rick McKee said. “They all provided leadership in their

words and deeds. They exemplified what it means to be a team player.

And, each of them fulfilled their role on this team.

“I will miss each one of them deeply, and will look forward to

seeing them grow in the years to come.”

Although reaching the Division II title match had been a major

goal for this team, its success, McKee said, went beyond Monday’s

spotlight.

“Finishing the season at 20-7 is awesome,” he added. “However,

more than that, these girls were not only a team, but a family. The

wins and going to the championship game is great, but to see them

come together and bond like they did, is probably their greatest

accomplishment.”