Girls Soccer (12-5-3, 7-1-1)
Janie Crawford drilled a pass by Paige Vitolo to give Laguna an early lead over Calvary Chapel at home this past Monday and the Breakers held on for a 1-0 victory, their sixth in a row. The win clinched the Orange Coast League title for the Breakers, only their second league crown in the program’s 33 seasons of competition. Breakers have now won six straight matches and the seven league wins is a new school record. The 12 season wins ties the 1997 squad for most season wins.
Last week, the Breakers defeated Godinez 2-0 on February 6 at Guyer Field. Chiara Noppenberger and Janie Crawford scored for Laguna.
Laguna closed out the regular season at last place Costa Mesa (0-5-4) this past Wednesday, Jan. 12, and will host the opening CIF match next Friday, Feb. 21 at Guyer Field. Kylie George has returned to her keeper duties after missing five matches due to injury during a 2-2 tie with Calvary on Jan. 21.
Photos by Robert Campbell
Boys Basketball (20-5, 9-0)
Laguna Rolls to 8th Straight Title
Laguna rolled past Calvary Chapel 69-36 on Tuesday, Jan. 11, at the loser’s gym to clinch another Orange Coast League crown and the privilege to host the opening playoff game most likely on next Wednesday at Dugger Gym.
Against Calvary (8-16, 2-7) the Breakers used balanced scoring from the starters for the easy win as Noah Blanton and Alec Wulff each scored 16, Josh Adams added 15 while six other players also scored.
Breakers have won a record 22 straight league games but had to survive at Costa Mesa this past Thursday to close out the 2014 season undefeated in league play for the second straight year. The Mustangs are one of Laguna’s longest rivalries with Laguna holding a 51-21 series edge.
Last Friday, Breakers rolled past third place Godinez 58-38 as Josh Adams hit for 21 points to lead Laguna over the Grizzlies. Noah Blanton added 18, Alec Wulff 13, Bryan Ludloff 4 and Isaac Wulff 2 points. On Wednesday, Feb. 5, Laguna hammered Saddleback 72-36 at Dugger Gym as Noah Blanton scored 23 to pace the Breakers over the last place Roadrunners.
SSCIF D-4AA Poll for February 10: 1 – Bishop Montgomery, 2 – Serra, 3 – Buckley, 4 – Oaks Christian, 5 – Crespi, 6 – Jserra, 7 – Mission Prep, 8 – Laguna Beach, 9 – Pacific Hills, 10 – Harvard-Westlake, 11 – Maranatha, 12 – Notre Dame/SO, 13 – Whittier Christian, 14 – Muir, 15 – Morningside, 16 – Centennial/Compton.
Boys Soccer (9-6-4, 6-2-1)
Breakers Qualify for Playoffs
Laguna routed Calvary Chapel (0-11-2, 0-7-1) this past Tuesday at Guyer Field 6-0 to secure a playoff spot for the D-V playoffs that begin on Tuesday, Feb. 18 for wild card matches and Thursday, Feb. 20 for the first round matches. Laguna’s placement depended on the outcome of matches this past Thursday, Feb. 13, which determine Laguna ranking first through third in the league standings. Against Calvary, Willy Wheeler scored twice, and Charlie Warner, Jacob Kunkal, Chris Tellez, and Rufus Barkley each added a score.
On Thursday, Laguna faced fifth place Costa Mesa while Estancia hosted sixth place Calvary and Godinez was at defending CIF champion, fourth-place Saddleback. Last week the Breakers were stopped by Godinez 2-0 on Friday, Feb. 11 at Guyer Field as the Grizzlies (12-0-6, 6-0-3), ranked fourth in the division, controlled the contest from the outset. Earlier, Breakers defeated Saddleback 3-0 at Guyer Field on Wednesday, Feb. 5 as Rory Saunders, Logan Eastman, and Harrison Gregory scored forLaguna.
Breakers Clinch Playoff Berth
Girls Basketball (17-8, 7-2)
Laguna wrapped up a spot in the upcoming Southern Section playoffs with a 61-26 win over Calvary Chapel/Santa Ana (2-23, 0-9) on Monday, Feb. 10 at Dugger Gym. Jackie Cenan hit for 22 points while Jane Wallin added 16, Alexandra Lewis 13 and Francesca Cecutti added 10 points along with a team-high 16 rebounds. The squad now has the second most wins in program history just two behind last year’s record total of 19.
Last Thursday, Feb. 6 at Dugger Gym, Cenan tied the school record with 16 field goals and scored a total of 41 points (third most in school history) in Laguna’s 67-52 win over Godinez (7-18, 4-5).
Breakers closed out the season this past Wednesday at Costa Mesa with the winner finishing second and the loser third in league standings. Estancia has clinched the top spot in the Orange Coast League for the second straight season.
Girls Water Polo (24-1, 3-0)
Breakers Complete Tournament Sweep – Stop Foothill 10-3 in Finals
Laguna avenged their only loss of the season with a dominating 10-3 rout of Foothill (21-5) in the finals of the 19th annual Southern California Championships this past Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Woollett Center in Irvine. Breakers controlled the tempo from the outset as Makenzie Fischer scored her first of five goals less than a minute into the contest. Aria Fischer made it 2-0 on Laguna’s next possession and the Breakers never looked back.
It was 7-2 at the intermission at 9-3 after three periods. Breakers could have made it much worse but used the clock in the final period rather than press their out-manned opponent.
Holly Parker was brilliant in the cage with nine saves.
The victory gave Laguna their first So Cal title in their eighth appearance in the sport’s oldest in-season tournament. Breakers have captured all three major in-season tournaments this season and are the favorites for the D-I Section title.
Goals: M Fischer – 5, Baldridge – 2, A Fischer – 2, Borkovec – 1
Assists: A Fischer – 2, 1 each – Salvini, Baldridge, Evans, M Fischer, Borkovec
Steals: 2 – Baldridge, Parker, M Fischer, Julson, 1 – Selin, Evans, A Fischer, Salvini
Earlier contests:
Semifinals: Laguna 7, Corona Del Mar 1
Another methodical win, Laguna stifled the Sea Queens offense preventing few quality shots in the win Saturday morning at the Woollett Center. Corona was unable to take a shot in their first two possessions as Laguna scored with 5:08 remaining in the first period when Cora Borkovec scored off a pass from Natalie Selin. Aria Fischer made it 2-0 from a pass by Haley Evans and sister Makenzie made it 3-0 with a pass from Bella Baldridge early in the second period. CdM’s only score came on a desperation lob shot at the intermission buzzer that got past the grasp of Holly Parker. Laguna scored their final goal on their first possession of the fourth period as Makenzie Fischer skipped a penalty shot into the Corona cage. Laguna held off their offense for most of the final period contented to let time expire.
Goals: M Fischer – 4, 1 – A Fischer, Brighid Burnes, Borkovec
Assists: 1 – Baldridge, Evans, Selin, Julson
Steals: 3 – A Fischer, 2 – Parker, 1 – Baldridge, M Fischer
Quarterfinals: Laguna 14, San Marcos 9
The Royals brought their “A” game to the Friday night match as Laguna battled to hold a slim 7-6 lead the intermission. The second half was all Laguna as the team pressed the Santa Barbara area squad, forcing errors and loss of possession due to shot-clock violations while steadily building a lead. Makenzie Fischer clearly dominated play.
Goals: 5 – M Fischer, 4 – A Fischer, 2 – Baldridge, 1 – Salvini, Selin, Borkovec
Assists: 5 – M Fischer, 4 – Baldridge, 2 – Evans, Parker, Salvini
Steals: 6 – M Fischer, 2 – Salvini, A Fischer, Borkovec, 1 – Baldridge, Parker, Burnes, Julson
Other So Cal Tournament matches: Round of 16: Laguna 17, Coronado 3, Round of 32: Laguna 23, Fountain Valley 3 (9th most goals scored in team history, margin of victory)
Wednesday – February 5: Laguna 22, Godinez 0
Breakers recorded their biggest shut-out victory in history with the league win at Santa Ana Valley High School. The margin of 22 goals ranks fourth in team history.
Goals: 5 – M Fischer, 3 – Borkovec, 2 – A Fischer, Baldridge, Lucidi, Evans, Julson, 1 – Salvini, Burnes, Selin, Jochim
Assists: 4 – Baldridge, 4 – Julson, 2 – Lucidi, Evans, Burnes, Selin, Borkovec, 1 – M Fischer, Jochim, Salvini
Steals: 3 – Evans, M Fischer, 2 – Salvini, A Fischer, Burnes, 1 – Lucidi.
Saves: 6 – Borkovec, 2 – Knott, 1 – Parker
This past week, the regular season concluded with a home match on Wednesday, Feb. 12 with Costa Mesa and a trip to El Toro for a 3:15 faceoff on Friday, February 14. Laguna will host the opening SSCIF playoff game on Wednesday, Feb. 19. Finals will be at the Woollett Center in Irvine on Saturday, March 1.
SSCIF D-I Poll Feb 10: 1 – Laguna Beach2 – Foothill, 3 – Corona del Mar, 4 – Newport Harbor, 5 – San Marcos, 6 – Santa Barbara, 7 – Los Alamitos, 8 – Dos Pueblos, 9 – Edison, 10 – Irvine
Coach Ethan Damato to Receive the Doc Hunkler Distinguished Women’s Coaching Award from USA Water Polo.
In recognition for his achievements in 2013 as a club coach with SET Water Polo, Damato guided the 16U girls to gold at the 2013 Junior Olympics. An important piece of the national team pipeline, Damato has served as an Olympic development coach and most recently as an assistant coach with the Women’s Youth National Team.
He is a two-time Southern Section CIF Coach of the Year for both the boys and girls teams. The award will be presented to Damato at the April 5 USA Water Polo Hall of Fame banquet.
Southern Section CIF Playoff Bracket Postings
Girls Water Polo – after 9AM on Sunday Feb 16
Basketball – after 12 noon on Sunday Feb 16
Soccer – after 12 noon on Monday, Feb 17
