Laguna poloists net five victories

The Laguna Beach Age Group Water Polo girls’ Under-14 team won five of six matches last weekend as it continues to prepare for the upcoming Speedo Cup in November.

Laguna entered the Northwood 16-and-Under tournament Saturday at Santa Ana High and played a pair of non-tournament matches on Sunday.

In tournament action:

Stars 4, Laguna 3

The teams were tied, 3-3, at the end of regulation and headed into a three-minute sudden death overtime when the Stars of North San Diego County scored once to pull out the win.

Laguna faced a 3-0 deficit in the first-half but rallied to within 3-2 by the break.

In the second quarter, Candyce Schroeder scored off a pass from Jessica Shusko. A minute later, Shusko drew a kick out and Lauren Hampton scored on a player-advantage situation for Laguna. Hampton’s goal was set up by Melena Masson.

Laguna pulled into a 3-3 tie in the third quarter with Shusko scoring the equalizer. She scored off Kelsey Thorton’s feed. Edy Manetta made two big saves — one coming on a 6-on-5 Stars advantage — to help preserve the tie. The Stars, however, converted on another 6-on-5 advantage, this one coming with 23 seconds left in the quarter, to pull ahead 3-2.

In the fourth quarter, Jessie Holechek’s steal led to Riley Duncan’s shot bouncing off the cross bar. The long rebound went to Holechek who scored on a put-back shot to bring Laguna even at 3-3. Laguna, however, could not convert on two player-up advantages, and two key Manetta saves in the quarter left the teams deadlocked at the end of regulation.

Laguna 16, Tesoro 4

Laguna raced to an 8-1 lead and cruised to victory. Hannah Lawson led Laguna with three goals and Lida De Groote scored the first two goals of her water polo career.

Yoshi Andersen, Candyce Schroeder and Lauren Hampton each also scored twice and Jessie Holechek, Kelsey Thor- ton, Melena Masson, Jessica Shusko and Kaitlyn Waidley each scored once and Waidley had three assists.

Laguna 14, Aliso Niguel 1

The second runaway tournament triumph saw Laguna hold Aliso Niguel scoreless until midway through the third quarter.

Yoshi Andersen scored three goals and Kelsey Thorton, Candyce Schroeder and Edy Manetta each scored twice. Single goals went to Jessica Shusko, Melena Masson, Lida De Groote, Lauren Hampton and Riley Duncan.

The win set up a title game match against Carlsbad, but the team from Carlsbad had departed for home late Saturday afternoon. The host team, Santa Ana, stepped in to face Laguna in the final match of the tournament.

Laguna 16, Santa Ana 5

Lida De Groote recorded four goals, Riley Duncan netted three goals and Jessica Shusko and Lauren Hampton each scored twice as every Laguna player reached the scoring column.

In Sunday’s action:

Laguna 9, Los Alamitos 5

Laguna overcame an early 3-0 deficit to beat their rival on the road.

Jessica Shusko and Jessie Holechek began the comeback by each scoring in the second quarter. Two more goals in the quarter, each scored by Riley Duncan, allowed Laguna to take a 4-3 lead at the half.

After Los Alamitos scored to tie the match at 4-4 in the third quarter, goals by Yoshi Andersen, Melena Masson gave Laguna a 6-4 advantage through three quarters. Los Alamitos drew to within 6-5 in the final quarter but two Holechek goals and one by Duncan, secured the victory.

Laguna 11, Capistrano Valley 1

Kelsey Thorton scored four goals and Yoshi Andersen three as host Laguna ended a busy weekend with another easy win.