Laguna wins defensive battle

More than three weeks after shutting out the Corona del Mar High girls’ water polo team, Laguna Beach nearly did it again.

But the Sea Kings hope that two late goals in Saturday’s 7-2 nonleague loss to the Breakers at Corona del Mar High will provide momentum.

The young CdM squad (9-6), which has lost four of its last five games, is still coming together following an eighth-place finish last weekend at the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions.

“I think our chemistry is getting better,” said CdM junior Sarah Lawson, who had a goal and an assist. “In Santa Barbara we had really great team meetings and the bonding really strengthened us. Seeing the score of this game, we just looked at it like we improved. Last time we played them it was a shutout, and this time we scored two goals. I think we can only go up from here.”

Laguna Beach (16-2), ranked No. 2 in CIF Southern Section Division 1, also had a tough weekend in Santa Barbara. Its 63-game winning streak was snapped in a loss to Dos Pueblos and a seven-tournament streak ended in a TOC semifinal loss to eventual champion Orange Lutheran. But the Breakers, the two-time defending Division 1 champions, were able to put the clamps on the Sea Kings like they did in a 7-0 Holiday Cup semifinal win on Dec. 30.

Laguna Beach Coach Ethan Damato credited senior center defender Ally Joachim, who had three steals, and senior goalie Holly Parker (four saves) as key reasons why.

“[Stopping CdM senior center] Bridgett [Storm] is obviously a focal point for us, and I think Ally both times that we’ve played them has really made her job really hard,” Damato said. “Obviously, we’re also helping, but I think it kind of starts with Ally. She’s done a really nice job the last two games, and then Holly’s been lights out both times we played CdM. It’s down the middle, our center defender and our goalie.

“The way that we play defensively, and with a goalie like Holly, I think that if you don’t put some shots away early then you get tight. On the other side of the pool, the same thing happens to us with [CdM senior goalie] Heidi [Ritner]. I think that’s natural if you’re playing against a good goalkeeper and a good defensive team.”

Damato said he wants his team, which played without senior Mia Salvini (hip/groin), to execute better offensively. But a strong first quarter helped the Breakers on Saturday. Senior Haley Evans scored twice early and junior Bella Baldridge also added a goal to give Laguna a 3-0 lead.

The score stayed the same at halftime, which was a credit to Coach Kevin Ricks’ Sea Kings. CdM also played short-handed, as senior Tia DiGiovanni suffered a thumb injury in practice on Friday and junior defender Kelly Morgan was taking her SAT test. Freshman Sophie Wallace played well in increased minutes in Morgan’s absence.

“I thought we played really good defense,” Ricks said. “We gave up a couple of goals in that first quarter, but then made some adjustments and held them scoreless in the second. That’s great to see. At the offensive end, we’re going to have to find ways to score the ball. If you go into a game and you hold your opponent to five, six or seven goals, you feel like you have a shot to win the game. I felt like we created some opportunities, but just didn’t put the ball away.”

Freshman Sophie Leggett scored three goals for Laguna Beach while Evans and Baldridge had two each, with Baldridge adding two assists and two steals. Parker and the Laguna Beach defense held CdM scoreless into the fourth quarter, when sophomore Chloe Harbilas finally scored after a cross pass from Lawson with 3:19 remaining in the game.

The Sea Kings scored again after Lawson’s nice move from center with 52 seconds left, on a pass from junior Emily Ritner. By then Parker was out of the game, with Laguna backup goalie Thea Walsh making two saves late.

Heidi Ritner made 10 saves for the Sea Kings, while Lawson and Jaleh Moaddeli each had three steals. Storm drew two exclusions for CdM, which didn’t score on any of its three power-play opportunities.

The Sea Kings hope to continue to grow. They continue Pacific Coast League play at home against Northwood on Tuesday and Woodbridge on Thursday, before playing host to San Marcos on Friday. San Marcos is ranked No. 4 in Division 1 and defeated CdM, 8-4, in the quarterfinals of the Santa Barbara TOC.

CdM appears on its way to another Pacific Coast League title, as it is 5-0 in league. But tough nonleague games, as well as the upcoming Irvine Southern California Championships on Feb. 4-6, will provide good challenges.

“I think as a younger team, not all of us are used to stepping up,” Lawson said. “That’s kind of something that as we mature, I think the opportunities will come and we’ll be able to take advantage of those.”