Laguna Beach captures water polo league title

Laguna Beach High team claimed the first Orange Coast League girls’ water polo title Wednesday by defeating visiting Estancia, 20-6.

That win, coupled with a 3-2 loss by second-place Costa Mesa to Sage Hill, gave the Breakers the title outright.

Laguna is 5-0 in league play and has a two-game lead on the Mustangs with just one league match remaining.

Annika Dries matched five goals with five assists and also had a pair of steals, Jessica McKee had five goals, four assists and a steal and Lexi Ross scored four times with an assist and two steals for the Breakers.

Also adding to the Laguna attack was Breanna Duplisea with two goals and two assists, Taylor Dodson with a goal, three assists and three steals, Natasha Schulmann scored twice with three assists and a steal and Erin Reid had a goal, two assists and three steals.

Celia Huling had eight saves.

The Breakers are currently playing at the So Cal Championships in Irvine through Saturday. The 32-team tournament is being played at various pool sites, including the Woollett Center in Irvine.

The Breakers took on Esperanza on Thursday in their opening match but the score was not available at press time.

“I’m hoping the girls will redeem themselves in this tournament,” Laguna Coach Chad Beeler said, referring to the “disappointing” 2-2 record the Breakers posted at the Tournament of Champions in Santa Barbara in late-January.

“I think they’ll play well. We’re healthy and ready to go.”

Laguna began the week’s action Monday with a 17-2 league triumph over visiting Sage Hill. Dries, McKee and Maddi Duncan each scored three goals, Duplisea, Ross and Kaitlin Meek each scored twice and Reid and Hannah Fait added a goal apiece.

Huling had four saves and Sarah Zuziak finished with two.

On Jan. 26, the Breakers traveled to Palos Verdes for a nonleague match and returned home with an 11-9 victory. The Breakers took a 6-1 halftime lead and then held on in the second half.

“We got off to a real good star in the Palos Verdes game and the girls played super well,” Beeler said. “It was nice to get another road win.”

McKee scored four goals, Reid, Dodson and Duplisea each scored two and Schulmann posted one goal.

Duplisea led the team in assists with three and Dodson topped the Breakers with four steals.

Huling had nine saves.

Laguna will take on Mission Viejo at 3:45 p.m. Monday in a nonleague match at the Laguna pool. The Breakers finish off league play Wednesday (3:15 p.m.) against visiting Costa Mesa.