Laguna boys 10-8 winners

The Laguna Beach 12-and-under boys’ water polo team defeated Wolfpack

Water Polo Club of Orange, 10-8, in weekend play at the Laguna Beach

High pool.

Leading the way on offense for Laguna was Nolan McConnell with six

goals.

Dylan Payne scored two goals and Riley Browne and Alex Shapero

each scored once.

Hunter French deflected five shot attempts for Laguna and received

defensive assistance from Niki Brunner, Andrew Congalton, Trevor

Collins, Adam Kravitz, Kirk Knott, Drew Kanner, Niles Kogel and Tommy

Renner.

The team has qualified to compete in July at the Junior Olympics

in Northern California.

In girls’ action:

12-and-under division

Despite having dropped the final to its 14-and-under brethren, the

Laguna Beach girls’ 12-and-under water polo team made an impressive

run in tournament play at Capistrano Valley High.

The team, which will compete in August at the Junior Olympics,

defeated San Diego Shores, 8-0, and host Capistrano Valley, 8-4,

before falling, 6-2, to the Laguna Beach 14-and-under team.

In the 8-0 win over San Diego Shores, Edy Manetta came up with

several key saves and the defensive play of Melina Masson and Jesse

Holechek held San Diego Shores scoreless.

Jessica Shusko, meanwhile, scored three goals in the opening

quarter, one after a kick out, as Laguna grabbed a 3-0 lead.

Holechek, Masson, Riley Duncan, Masson, Holechuk, Yoshi Anderson

and Loren Hampton each contributed to setting up the first three

goals.

Laguna received goals from Hampton and Masson in the second

quarter to extend its lead to 5-0 at the half.

Shusko, Anderson and Holechek all scored in the fourth, with

Holechek’s goal coming from 30 yards out.

Laguna next took on host Capo Valley and recorded an 8-4 victory.

Shusko’s first-quarter goal opened the scoring for Laguna.

Holechek scored two goals, both after kick outs, and a shot by

Anderson beat the buzzer to end the score quarter, allowing Laguna to

take a 4-1 lead at the break.

Shusko scored two more goals in the third quarter; Manetta scored

twice and Duncan once in the final quarter, to complete Laguna’s

scoring. Holecheck and Shusko each scored in the 6-2 loss to the

Laguna 14-and-under team in the tournament finale.

In previous action, the 12-and-under girls played the Wolf Pack

boys’ 12-and-under team in an eventual, 7-5 loss.

Laguna led, 3-2, after the first quarter on goals by Shusko,

Masson and Holechek. Shusko and Anderson scored the final two goals

for Laguna.