Time away from pool concerns polo coach

Being forced to take an extended leave from the pool due to the fires and wind storms that have set part of Orange County ablaze has Laguna Beach High boys’ water polo coach Chad Beeler somewhat anxious.

The Breakers haven’t been in the water since Oct. 20 when they capped a two-day run at the Tustin Tournament by winning the championship.

Laguna was to take on Orange Coast League foe Costa Mesa Oct. 24, but the home match was canceled due to the fallout from the continuing fires and winds. So, too, was a nonleague match against Santa Margarita that had been scheduled for Oct. 23.

Beeler said the Costa Mesa league match will need to be rescheduled, but he wasn’t sure of a potential make-up date as of Oct. 24.

He also said the Santa Margarita match probably won’t be rescheduled.

Laguna is set to close out the regular season next week: the Breakers are to host Sage Hill at 4 p.m. Oct. 31 in their league finale, and then host Mission Viejo at 4 p.m. Nov. 2.

“Having the first two days off earlier in the week wouldn’t hurt us but now that the time away from the pool and practice has had to be extended, it concerns me a bit,” Beeler said. “My philosophy is that it takes months to get into shape but only a few days to get out of shape, especially since the last time we’ve played was last Saturday (Oct. 20).

“We were really pleased with the way we played at the Tustin Tournament. The team that I thought also was a strong contender for the title was Dos Pueblos, and they were put in the same side of the bracket as us. We were able to beat them in the semifinals.”

Laguna won the Tustin Tournament for the second straight year.

Senior Pierre Masson, who plays the set position, scored 13 goals in four games and was named the tournament MVP.

The Breakers were the top seed in the 16-team tournament that began Oct. 19.

Laguna 15, Tustin 4 Nathan McConnell powered his way for five goals as Laguna opened the tournament Oct. 19 with an easy win over the host Tillers.

Laguna 12, Huntington Beach 3

In its second match played Oct. 19, Laguna was in front 12-3 when the game was cut short early in the fourth quarter after the Huntington head coach drew a red card.

Max Munoz, Victor Alcone, David Brunner, Nathan McConnell and Pierre Masson scored goals for the Breakers.

Laguna 8, Dos Pueblos 7

Pierre Masson tapped in a score off a pass from David Brunner in the final three minutes to break a tie and lift Laguna past the second-seeded Chargers.

Max Munoz scored three goals, each coming after a Dos Pueblos player had been ejected, Brett Thompson scored on a power shot from mid-pool, Masson scored from 2 meters off another assist from Brunner and later scored on a penalty shot in the third quarter to tie the score at 5-5.

Munoz’s final goal had given the Breakers a 6-5 lead and after Dos Pueblos scored the tying goal at the outset of the fourth quarter, Brunner connected on a corner shot to put Laguna up 7-6.

Warren Murrel had three blocks.

Laguna 9, Cathedral Catholic 7

The Breakers led from the start in the championship final and went on to defeat one of the San Diego Section’s top-rated teams.

Neither team was able to score in the first quarter but when Nathan McConnell sent a skip shot into the net on a Cathedral ejection, Laguna grabbed a 1-0 lead.

Additional goals by McConnell, Pierre Masson and David Brunner in the second quarter enabled Laguna to take at 4-2 halftime lead.

Laguna, ranked seventh in this week’s CIF-Southern Section Division II poll, is now 16-6 overall.