Laguna places second at polo tourney

The Laguna Beach girls’ 14-and-Under water polo teams traveled to the stifling heat in the Inland Empire last weekend to compete at the John Hale Tournament, and returned home with a runner- up finish.

Laguna fell in the title game to LA Water Polo Club, 6-4. The tournament, which began on July 21 and ended Sunday, was hosted by Chino Hills.

Laguna 13, LA Water Polo “B” 1

Laguna 4, City of Los Angeles 3

In two games played Friday at Rowland High, Laguna easily dispatched the “B” team from LA Water Polo and then slipped past City of Los Angeles, a club known as, “COLA.”

COLA had opened a 2-0 lead on Laguna at the half but in the third period, Yoshi Andersen scored to narrow Laguna’s deficit to 2-1. The comeback continued in the fourth quarter when Jesse Holechek scored the tying goal, and a goal by Jessica Shusko put Laguna ahead to stay, 3-2.

Melina Masson added an valuable insurance goal, as COLA scored following a timeout with 47 seconds left in the match. Laguna, however, was able to hold on for the victory.

Laguna 9, Los Alamitos 7

On Saturday, Laguna avenged an earlier defeat to Los Alamitos by winning in the final game in bracket play.

Laguna took control of a tight match in the fourth quarter. Holechek led the scoring with five goals and Shusko was next with two. Kelsey Thorton and Candyce Schroeder also scored.

Laguna 12, Pacific 2

Laguna 14, San Diego Shores 2

Laguna recorded a pair of lopsided wins in winner’s bracket play.

Against Pacific, Shusko netted three goals, Holechek and Lauren Hampton each scored twice and Thorton, Masson, Kaitlyn Waidley and Riley Duncan also scored.

In the win over San Diego Shores, Duncan topped all scorers with four goals, all coming in the first quarter. Andersen and Lawson each scored three times and Thorton, Hampton, Masson and Holechek each scored once.

LA Water Polo 6, Laguna 4

Laguna fell behind early and nearly came back to knock off LA Water Polo in the final.

Laguna had fallen behind, 3-0, as the end of the first half neared, but a goal by Shusko, followed by a score by Thorton, narrowed the deficit to 3-2 at the break.

Early in period three, Thorton drew a kick-out and Masson scored with the player advantage to bring Laguna into a tie at 3-3. LA Water Polo, scored the next three goals to take control before a tally by Andersen made the final 6-4.