High School Roundup: Laguna opens title defense
The Laguna Beach High girls’ soccer team took its first step toward its goal of repeating as Orange Coast League champion by taking care of host Costa Mesa, 4-1, in a league opener for both teams Tuesday.
Laguna (3-3-5) gave up an early goal but responded by scoring two goals, including one on a long shot by defender Amy Hewlett, in the opening half to grab a 2-1 lead at the break.
The Breakers made adjustments and created opportunities in the second half to maintain control.
Freshman forward Renee Thomas scored twice and junior midfielder Alyssa Pellow scored from a corner kick for the Breakers.
Coach Bill Rolfing called the opening OCL result “an important league win on the road.”
“The 4-1 final has given us goal-scoring confidence,” he said. “Also, with the depth of this year’s team, it was critical to allow valuable playing time for the entire roster. Each match is crucial and tactical preparations will be ongoing.”
In a nonleague game at JSerra on Jan. 8, Laguna and Lions were scoreless at halftime, but the Breakers ended up with a 2-0 defeat.
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Boys’ Soccer
The Breakers got their Orange Coast League schedule off to a great start on Wednesday by blanking visiting Costa Mesa, 3-0, at Guyer Field.
James Langton scored off an assist from Willy Wheeler, Charlie Warner found the net after an assist by Logan Eastman, and Wheeler scored off a feed from Langton. Laguna held a 2-0 halftime advantage.
The Breakers evened their overall record at 5-5-1.
“This was a very good result for the boys and a great way to start our league campaign,” Coach Dan Richards said. “Costa Mesa has some very tidy players but we did a good job of limiting the influence they could have on the game. Our shape was good and it meant they were limited to very few offensive opportunities. We are always confident that we’ll be able to create some chances and know we pose a real threat going forward.
“All three of the goals were very well taken. Willy (Wheeler) did a great job and was very unselfish in creating his goal for James (Langton). Charlie’s (Warner) header from Logan’s (Eastman) cross was very well-placed to put us two goals up. Willy showed good composure to finish after receiving a good through ball from James to see the game off late in the second half.”
In action for the first time since Dec. 19, Laguna shut out visiting Crean Lutheran, 4-0, on Jan. 7. Wheeler scored three goals and Tommy Ressler scored once.
The Breakers were up, 2-0, at the half.
“You never quite know how you will do in your first game back after going a couple of weeks without a match,” Richards said. “Although we trained on a lot of days during the festive season, it was hard to have everyone available to work on specific team strategies and systems of play as so many families were away during the break.
“I felt the first half we played looked very slow and sloppy with errors all over the field. We got a much better rhythm going in the second half and looked a lot more composed on the ball and dangerous going forward. It was very hard for Crean to handle our speed and Willy (Wheeler) did a great job creating chances and occupying multiple defenders throughout the game.”
In a nonleague game Jan. 9, the Breakers defeated Saddleback Valley Christian, 6-2. Wheeler again scored three times and Ressler, James Langton and Carson Cushing each scored once.
“It was great to get a second win of the week and scoring 10 goals in two games is obviously a huge positive,” Richards said.
Laguna took on Costa Mesa in an Orange Coast League opener on Wednesday. The score wasn’t available at press time. The Breakers are back in league action at 6:30 p.m. Friday against Saddleback at Guyer Field, and travel next Wednesday for a 5 p.m. match at Estancia.
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Girls’ Water Polo
The Breakers, No. 1 in CIF Southern Section Division 1, started their bid for another Orange Coast League championship when they opened their league slate on Wednesday at Costa Mesa. The Breakers showed they have no intention of relinquishing the crown by routing the Mustangs in a shutout performance, 23-0.
Ten Breakers scored, led by Aria Fischer’s five goals. Bella Baldridge and Makenzie Fischer both scored four goals, and Mia Salvini, Sophia Lucas and Gabi Beran each scored twice. Holly Parker had four saves and Thea Walsh six saves to protect the shutout.
In another key, CIF-SS Division 1 nonleague game for Laguna, the Breakers went to Foothill on Jan. 8 and slipped past the second-ranked Knights, 6-5. Makenzie Fischer scored a game-high three goals and Parker had 11 saves.
Five days earlier, Laguna rolled Foothill, 13-3, in the title game of the Holiday Cup at Newport Harbor High.
“Foothill came to play and it was a battle from start to finish,” Coach Ethan Damato said. “It was not a pretty game by any means. I think we need to execute better in a lot of ways but at the end of the day we were able to hang tough and find a way to win. I’m very proud of that and hope we can use these tests to continue to improve every day.”
Laguna played a nonleague game at Dos Pueblos (No. 8, CIF-SS Division 1) on Thursday. The score wasn’t available at press time. The game preceded the Breakers’ entry into the prestigious Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions, which started with pool play games on Thursday, continues Friday and concludes Saturday.
Laguna is the top seed at the tournament and heads a Pool A bracket that includes San Marcos, Santa Margarita, El Toro and Riverside Poly. The Breakers meet the winner of the Thursday game between El Toro and Riverside Poly at 12:30 p.m. on Friday.
Laguna won the Tournament of Champions for the first time last January, defeating Newport Harbor, 9-5, in the tourney final.
The Breakers headed north on Thursday with an 11-0 record and possessing a 32-game winning streak.
“We have a very tough road ahead of us starting Thursday night at Dos Pueblos and Friday in the TOC,” Damato said. “Every game will be a challenge and hopefully will help push us to playing our best polo on Saturday in the semis, should be able to get there.
“Our goal is to be back in the finals with a chance to win.”
Next week, Laguna hosts Saddleback in a 3:15 p.m. league game on Wednesday .
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Cross-Country
The CIF Southern Section announced on Monday that the 2015 CIF-SS Boys/Girls Cross-Country Preliminary meet next November will be held at the new Riverside City Cross Country Course (formerly the Riverside Golf Club).
The prelims meet has been held at Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, first in 1953 and continuously since 1972. The Mt. SAC sports complex is scheduled to undergo an upcoming renovation.
“We are excited to hold the 2015 CIF-SS Cross Country Prelims at the new Riverside City Cross Country Course,” CIF-SS Assistant Commissioner in-charge of cross-country Rainer Wulf said in a statement. “With the impending closure of the traditional Mt SAC course for construction, we feel that this will give our teams a new experience and a quality course in preparation for CIF-SS Finals and the CIF State meet.”
The 2015 CIF-SS Boys/Girls Cross-Country Preliminary finals at Riverside City Cross Country Course are scheduled for Nov. 14.
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CIF Weekly Rankings
Girls’ water polo: Laguna Beach (No. 1, Division 1).
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Twitter: @MikeSciacca