Foothill Upsets Laguna, Breakers Win League Opener
Girls Water Polo (12-1)
For the fourth time since 2014, Foothill was able to upset the Breakers in a game played at the Knight’s pool on Saturday, Jan. 4. Laguna could only convert seven of 25 shots and converted only three power plays in 12 attempts—not their normal production in the loss. After a 4-4 first half, Breakers scored first in the third quarter on a goal by Emma Lineback off a Morgan Van Alphen pass to take a 5-4 lead, but Foothill countered, scoring on three quick possessions on a power play goal, counter attack, and then a five-meter penalty shot. Foothill scored their final goal late in the quarter on another power play opportunity. Laguna mounted a comeback early in the final period as Morgan Van Alphen scored a power play goal on a great pass from Rachael Carver, followed on their next possession by a score from Nicole Struss at the 3:27 mark pull within one. Laguna had five more possessions but could not get the shot to send the contest into overtime.
Laguna is 14-4 with the Knights the past seven seasons and 21-14. The two teams should meet again this Saturday, Jan. 11, in the TOC tournament at Dos Pueblos High School.
This past Tuesday at Corona del Mar’s pool, Laguna opened Sunset Surf League play facing D1 #3 Newport Harbor and survived a slow start to defeat the Tars 13-9 to extend their consecutive league win streak to 55. Last Laguna league loss was on Feb. 1, 2006 at Corona del Mar in a 9-4 setback. Breakers are trying for their 14th straight league title this season.
Against Newport, Laguna converted 13 of 22 shots and took control of the contest after a 5-5 first half by scoring on their first five possessions of the third quarter as Rachael Carver scored off a Molly Renner pass followed by a Carver pass to Emma Lineback for another score. Lineback converted a five-meter penalty shot at the 5:08 mark and Laguna led 8-5 with less than two minutes gone in the quarter. Lineback finished the game with three goals, three assists and a steal, while Molly Renner added two goals, two assists, two steals and drew a five meter penalty shot (converted by Linebeck). Rachael Carver added two goals, three assists, and Nicole Struss added a score and drew a penalty shot and two exclusions. Lauren Schneider had eight saves with some amazing blocks in the first half of play. Laguna has now won 13 in a row from Newport and leads the series 14-10.
Laguna is off to Santa Barbara for the 21st annual TOC Jan. 9-11. Laguna won the tournament in 2014, 2015 and 2017, finishing third in 2016 and last season. Breakers did not participate in the 2018 event that was rescheduled due to floods.
Statistical leaders after 13 games:
Goals: 35 – Lineback, 27 – Struss, Renner, 18 – R Carver, 15 – Van Alphen
Assists: 30 – R Carver, 24 – Lineback, 19 – Singer, 14 – Rose, 13 – Renner
Steals: 21 – R Carver, 17 – Renner, 13 – A Houlahan, Lineback, 12 – Rose
Drawn Exclusions: 23 – Struss, 13 – Clemons, 12 – Lineback, 8 – Carver, 7 – Renner, Singer
Saves: Schneider 78, Denny 10, Parness 5
Boys Basketball (12-6)
Nolan Naess scored 20 and played a great game but Newport Harbor (15-4) did an excellent job taking out Laguna’s long ball to defeat the Breakers 58-45 last Friday night at the Sailor’s gym. The second quarter proved to sink Laguna; the Tars outscored Laguna 21-8 to control the tempo. Breakers are 4-4 with Newport the past 25 years, but trail the all-time series 8-37.
This past Wednesday night, Nolan Naess poured in 32 as the Breakers routed Edison (11-9) 71-46. Willie Rounaghi added 12, Brooks Hogenauer 9, Lucas Kravitz 8, will Potratz 4, Chase Hall 2, Connor Fink 2, and Kanoa Panganiban 2.
Next home game is Jan. 15 when Laguna hosts Los Alamitos (12-6).
Girls Basketball (9-10)
Laguna lost to Los Alamitos (4-14) 65-16 on Jan. 2, defeated Estancia (3-16) 33-20 the following day, then lost to Corona del Mar 70-20 this past Monday.
Boys Soccer (4-5-1)
Laguna went 1-2 in the Marina Tournament the last week of December, losing 3-1 to Savanna, 2-0 to La Mirada but beating Dominguez 3-2. On Friday, Jan. 3, they lost a tough 2-1 match to Newport Harbor (7-1) in a Sunset crossover match. Raffy Ortiz-Marquez scored for Laguna midway in the first half. Newport won the match on a late goal.
Breakers hosted Edison on Jan. 8, travel to Corona del Mar on Jan. 10, and host Los Alamitos on Jan. 15. League play begins with Marina (6-4-3) followed by Fountain Valley (3-6-1) and Huntington Beach (4-6-2).
Girls Soccer (4-2-3)
Laguna opened the new year sending a notice they can compete among the Sunset Conference with some surprise results. Last Thursday at Laguna, Breakers, an unranked D3 team, defeated the Griffins 3-1 with scores by Jordan Spreague, Baylor Lund, and Candence Peery. The Griffins thought so little of the Breakers they sent a split squad competing in a tournament in San Diego. They lost to Eastlake 2-1 and to the Breakers and are now 14-3-3 on the year. This past Tuesday, Laguna proved the Los Al win was no fluke as they tied D1 #6 Corona del Mar (10-0-1) 0-0.
The Sunset Wave League play opens on Jan. 16 at D2 #7 Fountain Valley (8-6-2). Newport Harbor (13-2-2) is ranked #3 in D1, while D2 Marina (3-6-2) rounds out the league. Breakers must finish first or second in league play to make the playoffs.
