Coach honored after easy win

It’s not even postseason tournament time, yet the Laguna Beach girls’ water polo team is getting a taste of what to expect from the upcoming CIF Southern Section playoffs.

The Breakers, ranked third in Division II, currently are playing in the Irvine Southern California Championships at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center in Irvine. The Breakers, seeded second in their eight-team pool, opened the tournament Thursday against Esperanza.

“This tournament gives us a change to boost our division ranking,” Laguna co-head coach Chad Beeler said. “Every single game is going to be tough.”

The tournament will be in sharp contrast to the easy time Laguna had in its two outings earlier this week.

On Wednesday, the Breakers cruised past Orange Coast League rival Costa Mesa, winning 19-5 at the Laguna pool. Eight Breakers scored, led by four goals each by Annika Dries, Lexie Ross and Natasha Schulman. Lauren Elliott and Jessie Holechek both scored twice and Jessica Shusko, Taylor Dodson and Madison Duncan each scored once.

Dries also had three assists and Shusko and Dodson each had two assists.

Laguna improved to 2-0 in league and continues league play Wednesday against Sage Hills at the Corona del Mar High pool.

At the conclusion of Wednesday’s match, Beeler was presented a certificate that named him the Southern Pacific Zone Developmental Coach of the Year. The certificate, presented to Beeler by Stan Sprague of USA water polo who also coaches the Laguna high school club team, was in recognition of Beeler’s accomplishments as a coach of the Laguna Beach 14- and 12-and-under girls’ club team.

The 14-and-under team placed second at the Junior Olympics last summer and also placed second nationally last spring at the Speedo Cup in Missouri.

The Southern Pacific Zone is composed of club teams from Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Beeler said.

“It’s a nice honor, but I think it really represents what our girls’ teams have done in the past and what our coaching staff has achieved,” Beeler said.

The win over Costa Mesa came a day after Laguna had sprinted past sixth-ranked Palos Verdes, beating the visiting Sea Kings, 14-7, Tuesday.

Jessie Holechek led Laguna with four goals. Dries, Schulman and Dodson each scored three goals, and Ross scored once.

Ross also recorded five assists, Schulman and Dodson each had three assists, and Sarah Zuziak had six saves.

Following tournament play today and Saturday in Irvine, Laguna will play a 3:15 p.m. nonleague match Monday at Mission Viejo.