Breakers Roundup: Wild start in the pool

The way the early season is going for the Laguna Beach High boys’ water polo team, there soon may not be any nails left to bite.

Four days after losing their season opener to Villa Park, 10-9, on a goal with a second left, the Breakers were able to get a sense of redemption Tuesday afternoon with a 12-11 overtime victory over Foothill at their home pool.

Sophomore Nolan McConnell scored five goals against Foothill for the Breakers (1-1), who used goals from seniors David Brunner and Robbie Quellmalz in the overtime to help hold off the Knights.

“It was another tough game,” Coach Ethan Damato said. “It was good to come back with a win. We didn’t want to let give up a chance to beat Foothill at our pool.”

Brunner had three goals against Foothill, and Quellmalz and Spencer Dodson two each. Erik Henrikson made 10 saves.

In the season opener, Laguna battled back from a late deficit but was denied when, off a timeout, Michael Mitchell scored with a second on the clock to lift Villa Park.

Villa Park had led the game, 9-7, with under three minutes to go, but Quellmalz scored from set and then Dodson earned a penalty shot with 50 seconds to go. McConnell converted it, temporarily tying the game before Mitchell’s stunner.

“We were thinking he was going to throw it in the middle and they were going to tip it in,” said Quellmalz, who had a game-high four goals, of the final possession. “We tried to crowd the middle but he ended up just shooting. It was a definite heartbreaker It was a great shot by him.

“I think we played great,” he added. “We’ve come a long way since last year We love the competition.”

They’ll get more of it at the Villa Park Tournament, which began Thursday. Damato said the Breakers, ranked No. 4 in the CIF Southern Section Division III poll, could play top-ranked Montebello in the quarterfinals of the tournament.

Laguna also has a nonleague match with Montebello scheduled for Tuesday, on the road. Murrieta Valley, the No. 3-ranked team in Division III, is also at the Villa Park Tournament.

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GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL

Laguna Beach battled Tuesday night on the road, but Santa Margarita was too tough in the four-game match, 25-22, 25-14, 25-15. The Eagles the top-ranked team in the CIF Southern Section Division I-AA coaches’ poll; Laguna Beach is No. 4 in Division I-A.

For the Breakers (1-1), junior Chanel Stewart had a team-high 10 kills against Santa Margarita, followed by senior Alex Rieckhoff with seven. Sophomore setter Allison Palmer added team highs of eight digs and 17 assists.

The Breakers opened their season with a 25-11, 25-14, 25-14 home sweep of Sage Hill on Sept. 10. Rieckhoff had 13 kills and sophomore Avery Bush added eight, while Bush and Marina Paul had 10 digs each.

Laguna Beach plays at the Dave Mohs Tournament that begins today. The Breakers are the third-seeded of four teams in Division 1, Pool 5, which also includes El Dorado, Mission Viejo and Chapparel. The pool games are at Newport Harbor High, beginning at 3:30 p.m.

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GIRLS’ GOLF

Laguna Beach got its first win of the season by topping Sage Hill, 270-291, on Sept. 10 at Rancho San Joaquin. Senior Grace Komoroczy was medalist with a four-over par 40, and Coach Val Quigley said junior Christianne Kinder also did well by making just 15 putts on her round.

“We try for under 18 putts per round,” Quigley said.

The Breakers returned to action Monday with a match against Aliso Niguel, but this time came up on the losing side, 237-314. Quigley said Komoroczy suffered a back injury and was only able to play the first three holes. Sophomore Taylor Weiss shot a 53, the team low for the day.

“She’s been playing a lot better this year,” Quigley said.

The Breakers faced Sage Hill again Thursday, and now prepare for their league opener Wednesday. The match is against Costa Mesa at 3:30 p.m., at Aliso Viejo Country Club.

“I do anticipate the girls improving,” Quigley said. “They’re serious about improving their scores and want to get better.”

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GIRLS’ TENNIS

The Breakers (0-2) fell to two-time defending CIF Southern Section Division I champion Dana Hills, 16-2, on Tuesday afternoon at Dana Hills.

The doubles team of Claire Jaeger and Haley Moss won the two sets for Laguna Beach, which played host to Whitney Thursday and is at San Clemente on Tuesday.