By Frank Aronoff | LB Indy
Girls Water Polo (27-0, 4-0 – 1st Place)
Breakers closed the regular season last week crushing Godinez 22-1 and the top Division II team in the county, sixth-ranked El Toro 22-7. In the match Wednesday, Feb. 11, against the Godinez Grizzlies, all 17 Laguna players scored at-least one goal including the goalies Holly Parker and Thea Walsh, who each played a quarter in the field. Makenzie Fischer played keeper for the final period with two saves and a steal. Breakers led 21-1 after three periods with Makenzie leading all field players with three goals, three assists, and three steals.
Against the top Division II team, the Breakers led 12-3 at the half and 20-5 after three periods of play. Makenzie Fischer and Bella Baldridge each scored five goals in the contest. Holly Parker picked up another goal this time from the cage with a full pool length shot.
After 27 games, Breakers have overwhelmed the opposition an average of 17-4 for a 13-goal margin of victory. The squad has 14 field players (only six play at-a-time) with 10 scoring 20 or more goals this season.
Breakers host Villa Park this Wednesday in the opening game for their Division I CIF title quest. A win on Wednesday will tie the Orange County water polo win-streak record at 49 straight victories. Laguna should advance to either Dos Pueblos in Goleta or Los Alamitos for Saturday’s quarterfinal match.
In previous meetings this season, the Breaker JV beat Villa Park earlier this month while the Laguna varsity beat Dos Pueblos 19-5 on Jan. 15 at the Charger’s pool. Breakers and Los Alamitos have not met this season.
Semifinals will be Wednesday, Feb. 25, 7 p.m. at the Woollett Center at Irvine High School. This squad will go down as one of the most dominating all time for any sport in Southern Section CIF history. Don’t miss an opportunity to witness history.
All-time Southern Section Girls Water Polo Win Streaks
85 – Bell Gardens 1998-01 (ended with a 5-4 loss to Foothill on 2/3/2001)
68 – Dos Pueblos 2009-11 (ended with a 10-8 loss to Corona del Mar on12/2/2011)
49 – Foothill 2002-2004 (ended with a 10-9 loss to Newport Harbor on 1/14/2004)
48 – Laguna Beach 2014 – current
Records Watch:
Season: Bella Baldridge needs 1 assists to set the season record
Career: Makenzie Fischer is three short of the career steals mark.
Makenzie Fischer has a school record 440 goals, ranks seventh all-time in the Southern Section.