Season ends for Breakers in quarters

The 2007 season came to an end for the Laguna Beach boys’ water polo team Saturday when the Breakers suffered an 11-5 defeat at Riverside Poly in the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs.

Laguna had advanced to the division’s quarterfinal round after opening the playoffs Nov. 8 with a 13-8 first-round victory over visiting JSerra.

Laguna 13, JSerra 8

Having been bumped from last year’s playoffs by San Clemente in a first-round upset loss, the Orange Coast League champion Breakers were determined to not let the Lions pull off a similar feat.

JSerra actually took a 1-0 lead in the first quarter but a skip shot by Nathan McConnell followed quickly by a rebound shot and goal by Pierre Masson, gave Laguna the lead for good.

Masson went on to lead all scorers with five goals. McConnell, Max Munoz, Victor Alcone and David Brunner each finished with two goals.

Alcone, Brunner, Munoz, McConnell, Masson and Preston Head also came up with key steals on the defensive end to cement the victory.

Warren Murrel also stymied the Lions by recording 10 saves.

Riverside Poly 11, Laguna 5 Riverside Poly jumped out to a 5-2 lead after one quarter and later used a big third quarter output to eliminate Laguna from the playoffs.

The Bears took that 5-2 lead into the half and then outscored the Breakers 4-1 in the third quarter to further take control.

Each team scored twice in the fourth quarter as Poly advanced to the semifinal round.

Nathan McConnell led Laguna in scoring with four goals. Pierre Masson scored once and Warren Murrel again had 10 saves.

“I wasn’t so upset that we lost as much as I was in how we lost,” Laguna Coach Chad Beeler said. “Poly definitely wanted it more than we did.”

It was the final match of the prep careers for seniors Masson, McConnell, Munoz, Murrel, Sean Dorse, Johnny Meek, Anthony Ackley and Giorgio Mosco.

Laguna ended the year at 20-7. The Breakers hadn’t dropped a match since losing at Newport Harbor Oct. 13.

“With the exception of the Poly game, I think this team did a better job this year than anybody thought they would. “The kids really stepped it up this season.”