Breakers Repeat as Girls State Champions
Laguna girls captured the 48-team California High School Championships last weekend, surviving a shootout with Orange Lutheran before crushing Corona del Mar in the finals 9-2. On their way to the finals, Breakers wins included Clovis 13-3, Rancho Buena Vista 17-0, and Huntington Beach 13-0. Laguna also received a win over El Toro in a contest cancelled due to lightning.
The summer event is the only time the top high school programs can meet since girls water polo is a fall sport in the Northern California sections and Central CIF.
In the semifinals against Orange Lutheran on Sunday morning at the Corona del Mar pool, the Breakers held a 4-1 advantage at the intermission, but could not convert their opportunities in the second half ending regulation with a 6-6 tie. Following club rules, no overtime was played and a shootout was conducted with Holly Parker’s two key stops securing the Breaker victory as Laguna converted all of their five shots.
And, yes, spectators got as wet as the players, said Cheryl Baldridge, mother of a player.
Orange Lutheran game stats:
Goals: Natalie Selin, Sophia Lucas, Ally Jochim, Mis Salvini, Evan Tingler, Bella Baldridge
Steals: Selin – 3, Lucas, Haley Evans, Salvini, Baldridge
Field Blocks: Leggett
Assists: Baldridge – 2, Salvini , H. Evans
Drawn Ejections: Baldridge – 3
Saves: Parker – 8
In the finals that afternoon, Laguna shut down Corona del Mar for a 9-2 victory, with the last half played in a steady rain. Breakers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the initial 90 seconds and were never threatened. Holly Parker was brilliant in the cage.
Corona del Mar game stats:
Goals: Natalie Selin (2), Sophia Lucas (2), Ally Jochim (2), Sophie Leggett ( 2 goals – an incoming freshmen), Bella Baldridge.
Steals: Baldridge – 5, Selin – 4, Jochim – 2, Salvini – 2, Tingler
Field Blocks: Jochim – 3
Assists: Baldridge – 4, Parker – 2, Salvini, Tingler
Saves: Parker – 8
Final Finish: 1 – Laguna, 2 – Corona del Mar, 3 – Foothill, 4 – Orange Lutheran, 5 – ML King, 6 – Mater Dei, 7 – El Toro, 8 – San Ramon Valley, 9 – Huntington Beach, 10 – Royal, 11 – Murrieta Valley, 12 – San Marcos, – 13 Santa Barbara, 14 – Newport Harbor 15 – Agoura, 16 – San Clemente, 17 – Davis, 18 – Dos Pueblos, 19 – Riverside Poly, 20 – Lamorinda
Note: Breakers competed without Aria Fischer, who was competing at another US Water Polo event.
Laguna Boys struggled in the event after beating Yorba Linda 11-4 in their opening game. They went on to lose to Long Beach Wilson 12-4, Clovis 10-9, Santa Barbara 5-3, St Francis/Mt View 8-7, and Los Alamitos 10-6 to finish 32nd.
Up next is the Junior Olympics with the boys program running July 25-28 and the girls from July 30 through Aug. 2. The Laguna girls play for Saddleback-El Toro (SET) and are seeded 5th for 18’s and #1 for 16’s and 14’s.
