Laguna aims for title rematch

Laguna Beach girls’ water polo team opens playoffs.When the CIF-Southern Section released the pairings for the 2005 Division II girls’ water-polo playoffs on Monday, the set-up revealed another potential collision course for the teams from Laguna Beach and Corona del Mar.

Laguna was deemed the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, right behind the Sea Kings, who are the defending division champions.

Three victories by each team in the opening rounds of the playoffs would set up a title-game rematch on Feb. 27 at Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach.

A year ago, the two Pacific Coast League rivals met in the division final, where the Sea Kings came up with a 9-5 victory.

A third meeting this season between the teams definitely could be in the works.

But, first things, first.

Laguna opened the playoffs Thursday at home against Katella, the second-place team out of the Empire League. Corona del Mar, meanwhile, hosted La Habra, the No. 3 team from the Freeway League.

A victory over Katella would send Laguna into a second-round match on Tuesday.

Laguna was 22-5, overall, heading into the playoffs.

“I’ve been telling the girls all season long that the only team that can beat us, is us,” Laguna coach Rick McKee said. “We’ve been very focused on that for the past couple of weeks. We’ve been practicing with a sense of excellence lately, and that was reflected in our win over Tustin.”

The second-ranked Breakers tuned up for the playoffs by defeating then-No. 4 Tustin, 10-3, on the final day of the regular season Friday.

Laguna never trailed in the match. The Breakers led, 3-2, after the first quarter, shutout the Tillers in the second quarter en route to a 6-2 halftime lead, and again held them scoreless in the third quarter to take an 8-2 lead into the final quarter.

Annika Dries and Erin Reid led Laguna in scoring with three goals each. Breanna Duplisea scored twice and Jessica McKee and Taylor Dodson each had a goal.

Celia Huling again came up big in goal, this time, with 12 stops.

“It was a very well-rounded game for us,” Rick McKee said of the victory. “Our counter-attack kept going and going, and just wore Tustin down.

“Our defense is playing so well right now, and that has a lot to do with Breanna and Celia.”

Laguna has defeated four ranked teams that are playoff-bound: both Villa Park and Northwood twice, and Tustin and El Dorado once each.

A potential second-round matchup Tuesday would have Laguna taking on Villa Park.

The seeding for the Spartans came somewhat as a surprise to McKee.

“I was surprised to see Villa Park placed where they were,” he said. “I really thought that CdM, or us, would see them in the semifinals. Overall, I thought the brackets were consistent in both Division I and Division II. We’re excited about the playoffs.”

The CIF-Southern Section office released the final regular season rankings for girls’ water polo Monday. The Division II poll: 1. Corona del Mar; 2. Laguna Beach; 3. Mira Costa; 4. El Dorado; 5. Sonora; 6. Tustin; 7. Villa Park; 8. Valencia/Placentia; 9. Western; 10. Savanna.20060217iu1linncJAMIE FLANAGAN / COASTLINE PILOT(LA)Laguna Beach’s Jessica McKee, left, shouts to a teammate before passing the ball during Wednesday afternoon’s game against Corona del Mar. The Sea Kings won, 9-4.