Laguna Beach boys place fourth in polo tournament

14-and-under team wins four matches.The Laguna Beach Age Group Water Polo boys’ 14-and-under team finished in fourth place at last weekend’s Riverside Winter Classic at Arlington High.

In the 12-team event, Laguna played five games, defeating Cal Baptist University, Elite B of Murietta, Capo Valley and Los Alamitos. Laguna lost just one match, falling in the final minute to Rosebowl, 5-4.

Laguna 10, Cal Baptist 5

Robert Chew came up with four steals and David Brunner and Spencer Dodson scored goals -- all in the first quarter of play -- to get Laguna off to a quick start in its tournament opener Saturday.

Dodson led Laguna with four goals, Brunner finished with three, and Chew, Derek Knott and Hunter French each had one.

Laguna 15, Elite B 6

Laguna had little problem against Elite B as a potent offensive attack saw Casey Connors score three goals, Robbie Quellmalz, Spencer Dodson, Brent Donenfeld, Robert Chew and Nicky Brunner each scored two, and David Brunner and Kirk Knott one apiece.

Peter Weinfeld blocked four shot attempts.

Rosebowl 5, Laguna 4

An exciting match, Laguna’s third of the day Saturday, came down to the final seconds, when Rosebowl scored the decisive goal with 41 seconds remaining.

Rosebowl scored the first goal of the game but never led again until posting the game-winning goal.

Robbie Quellmalz and Nolan McConnell each scored in the first quarter, when Peter Weidner came up with two stops as Laguna opened up a 2-1 lead. After Rosebowl tied the score at 2-2 in the second quarter, Laguna answered with a steal by McConnell, who then drilled a shot from the outside and into the net for a 3-2 lead.

Rosebowl capitalized on a Laguna kick-out to forge another tie, this one at 3-3, but McConnell was there again to put Laguna back on top. His shot made it 4-3.

Two saves by Weidner allowed Laguna to take a 4-3 lead into the fourth quarter

Laguna 8, Capo Valley 6

In a fast-paced game Sunday, Laguna relied on 11 saves by Peter Weidner to hold off Capo Valley.

Laguna took a 3-2 halftime lead on the strength of a pair of goals by Nolan McConnell in the first quarter and a goal by Spencer Dodson in the second quarter. The defensive efforts of David Brunner, Hunter French, Derek Knott, Kirk Knott, Casey Connors, Robert Chew and Nicky Brunner kept Capo Valley out of scoring range most of the opening half.

In the second half, David Brunner scored twice and Connors, Dodson and McConnell each scored once for Laguna.

Laguna 2, Los Alamitos 1

Playing its most exciting match of the tournament, Spencer Dodson delivered the winning goal three minutes into the fourth quarter to lift Laguna.

Defense dominated play as both teams fought through a scoreless first half. Peter Weidner had seven saves in the first two quarters.

Los Alamitos took a 1-0 lead early in the third quarter, but with a minute to play in the quarter, Laguna drew even on a goal by David Brunner.

Dodson scored the winning goal despite being under heavy defensive pressure at the set position.