LAGUNA BEACH Makenzie Fischer passed the challenge in the second period when she scored on a near-side shot from the short wing against Newport Harbor’s All-County goalie, Carlee Kapana.
She also met the challenge in the third when she unleashed a skip-shot near-side on Kapana for a goal from about 5 meters.
And with the game on the line, and less than 30 seconds left Tuesday, the Laguna Beach senior took the challenge one more time against the keeper some consider the best in the country.
The county’s reigning girls water polo player of the year scored from the point at 6 meters with 23 seconds left in the fourth to lift the top-ranked Breakers past visiting No. 3 Newport Harbor, 9-8, in a nonleague game that attracted U.S. Olympic coach Adam Krikorian.
Laguna Beach goalie Holly Parker sealed the victory by stopping a shot from 8 meters by hot-shooting Ellie Reid with two seconds left.
Fischer finished with seven goals but focused afterward on the “challenge” she faced in Kapana, one of her training partners with the national team. Fischer didn’t back away, firing shots near-side, considered the goalie’s advantage.
“She’s the best (high school) goalie,” Fischer said. “She definitely blocks me a lot in practice.”
Kapana had her moments, too. She finished with 12 saves and appeared to surprise Fischer by coming out of her cage for a steal on a breakaway in the third.
Kapana also nearly scored on a full-court shot after a save late in the second period. The shot bounced down off the bottom of the crossbar but floated along the goal-line.
“They’re two of the best and they didn’t disappoint,” Laguna Beach coach Ethan Damato said of the duel.
Laguna Beach (5-0) again played without Fischer’s sister, Aria, who is expected to return from a bruised knee next week. Damato said the Breakers needed Makenzie to step up against the Sailors (3-2).
“I don’t think we win the game if she doesn’t play that well,” Damato said. “Especially with Aria not playing, we got to find a way to generate more offense.”
Newport Harbor’s offensive spark came from center. Versatile attacker Kate Pipkin and Rachel Whitelegge scored consecutive goals from 2 meters to open the scoring in the fourth and trim Laguna Beach’s lead to 7-6. Reid then erased an 8-6 deficit by threading a low shot through traffic for a power-play strike and tossing in a cross-cage lob with 1:32 left.
Kapana said the Sailors – playing without Coach Bill Barnett (hip) — felt encouraged with their play.
“We felt like we won but we didn’t,” she said. “We’re all super excited because I guess we didn’t have as much confidence going in as we should have.”
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
