Boys tread over tough 10

The Laguna Beach boys’ 14-and-under age group water polo team powered

its way through a five-day stretch that saw the squad play 10 games.

During that stretch, Laguna played in two weekend tournaments and

finished the 10-game swing with a 6-4 record.

It began with a 9-6 victory over Newport Beach, a match in which

Nolan McConnell, Robert Chew, David Brunner and Robbie Quellmalz

scored for Laguna.

The first quarter ended at 2-2, with goals from David Brunner and

Zach Riegler. Goalie Hunter French and a strong defense prevented

Newport from scoring in the second quarter, while Laguna got a goal

from Brunner and two from McConnell.

Harrison Phelps started the third quarter with a goal but Newport

netted the next three goals to pull to within 6-5. In the fourth

quarter, Newport scored again to tie the score, but David Brunner

fired one in from mid-pool, followed by a skip shot by Morgan Brick,

to put Laguna back on top, 8-6.

Laguna’s final goal was scored by one of its youngest players,

10-year-old Robert Clemons.

Additional offensive and defensive contributions for Laguna came

from Spencer Dodson, Ryan Maddox, Nicky Brunner, Robert Chew, and

10-year-old Riley Brown.

At a 12-team 15-and-under tournament played at Northwood High

School in Irvine, Laguna played in two different brackets and ended

up playing twice as many games -- six -- than the rest of the

tournament field.

In the A bracket, Laguna started off with a 9-8 win over St. John

Bosco. Laguna also won its first match in the B bracket, 14-5, over

Trabuco.

In the win over Trabuco, Brunner, Dodson and McConnell each scored

first half goals, and French had two saves, but Trabuco still managed

a 4-3 lead.

From then on, it was all Laguna, which dominated the second half

of play. Riegler, Maddox and Drew Kanner contributed on offense and

defense, and Harrison Phelps took over as goalie and finished with

three saves.

Quellmalz led the match with four goals, all coming in the third

quarter. Chew scored his two goals in the third quarter and Dodson

posted two more goals in the fourth quarter.

McConnell, Nicky Brunner and Riley Brown scored single goals in

the final quarter.

In Laguna’s next outing, it suffered a 14-3 loss to Newport Beach

in A bracket play. McConnell scored the only goal for Laguna in the

first half and he and Dodson each scored in the fourth quarter to

complete Laguna’s scoring.

In its fourth tournament game, Laguna outscored host North Irvine,

11-8, in B bracket action. David Brunner scored three goals,

Quellmalz scored once and French came up with three saves during a

strong opening quarter by Laguna.

McConnell also scored in the early in the second quarter as the

two teams were locked in a 5-5 tie at the half.

After Phelps relieved French in goal in the second half, French

scored early in the third quarter to give Laguna a 6-5 advantage.

Additional goals by Quellmalz, David Brunner and Chew allowed Laguna

to take a 9-7 lead into the fourth quarter.

There, Phelps came up with three blocked shots and Dodson and

McConnell each scored as Laguna emerged with an 11-8 win.

Laguna’s final A bracket game ended in a 13-6 loss to Los Alamitos. McConnell and Phelps each scored twice and Chew and David

Brunner each scored once.

Laguna’s sixth and final tournament match of the day ended with a

12-4 win over Trabuco. Dodson and Phelps led the way with three goals

each, Chew scored twice and McConnell, Kanner, Riegler and Brown

scored single goals.

At the eight-team 14-and-under tournament played at Newport Harbor

High, Laguna finished in fourth-place after posting a 1-2 record.

Laguna opened the tournament with a 12-4 win over North Irvine.

McConnell led all scorers with three goals, David Brunner and

Quellmalz each scored twice and single goals went to Nicky Brunner,

Dodson, Chew, Riegler and Brown.

Behind the play of Jimmy Karas, 10, on defense, Laguna was able to

keep North Irvine to just one goal in the third quarter.

In its second game at the tournament, Laguna fell to Los Alamitos,

11-8. McConnell and Nicky Brunner each scored three goals, Quellmalz

and David Brunner each scored once and French blocked six shots.

In its final game during the 10-match stretch, Laguna fell to

Newport, 13-7, in the fourth-place game. McConnell scored a team-best

four goals.