Sports
Laguna Beach Comes Up Short Against Dos Pueblos in Title Match
Top-ranked Chargers cruise to a 13-6 victory over Breakers, who made a strong three-day run to the championshp game, beating a number of top-10 opponents along the way.
Laguna Beach made a strong statement with a run to the title game of the Irvine Southern California Women’s Water Polo Championships. But the Breakers simply had nothing left in the finals as No. 1 Dos Pueblos took control and cruised to a 13-6 victory Saturday afternoon at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center in Irvine.
The Breakers started strongly by taking an early advantage, but they could not hold back the overwhelming Dos Pueblos offense, led by Kiley Neushul, who had five goals. Laguna Beach led, 3-2, after the first quarter, but the Chargers outscored the Breakers 4-0 in the second quarter to take control and then put the game out of reach in the third quarter with five more goals.
The Breakers opened the game with a goal by Lexie del Toro on a lob shot from the right side that hit the left post. After the Chargers tied the score, Melena Masson put the Breakers back up with a goal on Laguna Beach’s ensuing possession. After exchanging missed opportunities, the Breakers pushed their lead to 3-1 on del Toro’s second goal of the game. She pushed a rebound into the goal after Yoshi Andersen’s shot from the outside hit the crossbar. But from that point, the Chargers began to take control.
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“We ran out of gas," Laguna Beach coach Ethan Damato said. "P hysically, we were tired and made some mistakes we didn’t make this weekend.”
The grueling weekend tournament not only drew a playoff caliber field, but also required that teams play five games in three days. Each of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 top 10 teams was among the participants, including No. 1 Dos Pueblos. The Chargers used a stifling defense to keep the Breakers fighting against the shot clock on many opportunities.
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“They do a good job of denying and pressing and they made us fight for every inch,” Damato said.
The Breakers were led by del Toro with three goals. Sydney Saxe and Alia Manetta each added one. The Breakers came into the weekend ranked No. 7 in Division 1, but their stock should rise after making a run to the finals. They knocked off No. 2 Los Alamitos and No. 3 Santa Barbara in the process.
“We’re really proud of the girls and how they played,” Damato said.
The Breakers will wrap up Orange Coast League play on Wednesday at home against Saddleback at 3:15 p.m. They will finish their regular season on Friday against Santiago of Corona at home at 3:15 p.m.
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The all-tournament team from the Irvine Southern California Girls Water Polo Championships:
Most outstanding field player -- Kiley Neushul, Dos Pueblos, sr.
Most outstanding goalie -- Sarah Wilkey, Newport Harbor, sr.
All-tournament Team:
Kodi Hill, Dos Pueblos, jr.
Tiera Schroeder, Dos Pueblos, sr.
Melena Masson, Laguna Beach, jr.
Jessie Holechek, Laguna Beach, sr.
Kailyn Obenauer, Newport Harbor, sr.
Catherine Carpenter, Newport Harbor, sr.
Kelsey O'Brien, Santa Barbara, so.
Rachel Fattal, Los Alamitos, jr.
Diana Murphy, Corona del Mar, jr.
Kelli Boling, Foothill, sr.
Savannah Fletcher, Agoura, sr.
Victoria Williams, Vista, sr.
Alys Williams, Edison, sr.
