By Frank Aronoff
Jack Dodson scored seconds into the match to lead the Breakers (23-6, 5-0) to a 19-6 rout of Aliso Niguel (15-12) this past Saturday, Nov. 15, before a packed house at Gilleran Pool on the Wolverine campus.
In less than four minutes into the initial seven-minute quarter it was already 6-0 and Laguna led 19-3 at the end of three periods, long after they began to substitute. Dodson finished with three goals, an assist and two steals. Cade Baldridge added five goals, three assists and three steals. Jakob Colladay had four goals, three assists and three steals. Breakers are now 14-0 against Aliso, dating back to their initial meeting in 1994.
Earlier, Laguna opened their Division III playoff run with a 21-3 thrashing of Vista Murrieta on Wednesday, Nov. 12, at the local pool. Nine different Laguna players scored in the game where Laguna held a 16-0 led at the half.
Laguna has been without the service of Aki Anderson for the playoffs. The senior who ranks second in assists and fourth in steals for the season was expected to return to action this past Wednesday, Nov. 19.
Breakers faced Capistrano Valley this past Wednesday afternoon at the Woollett Center in Irvine. If the Breakers prevailed over the Sea View League champion Cougars (19-11) Laguna will be in the section finals on Saturday, Nov. 22, at the Woollett Center in Irvine. The match time was to be posted Thursday, Nov. 20, at cifss.org web site. Laguna met Capo in the final week of the regular season pulling off a 17-12 win. The two schools first met in 1978 and Laguna currently holds a 12 game win streak over the Cougars dating back to 1995.
CIF Playoff facts: Breakers are in their 51st season and have won 15 league titles, advanced to the playoffs 31 times.
They were D-3 Champs in 2010 and 2011 and had advanced to the D-2 semifinals in 2012 and 2013 before returning to D-3, Playoff groups are based on “league equity assessment” and not on school enrollment or specific team strength. Under the current division format, Breakers were in D-1 2002-2005, D-2 1994-2001, 2012-13, and D-3 1992-93, 2008-11, 2014. Laguna has an all-time playoff record of 39-28.
