RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA – Laguna Beach’s girls water polo team is playing without at least one Fischer sister on its roster for the first time since 2010-11.
The sisters now play for the U.S. national team, but that hasn’t lowered the curtain on the Breakers’ dominating show.
Natalie Selin and freshman Sophie Leggett each scored twice Saturday and Holly Parker made 13 saves to help top-ranked Laguna Beach beat No. 2 Orange Lutheran, 5-2, at the Santa Margarita Showcase.
In extending their Orange County record winning steak to 56 games, the two-time defending CIF Division 1 champions (4-0) shut out the Lancers (7-2) for the final 19:01.
“By no means do we feel like we don’t have the talent to win,” Laguna Beach coach Ethan Damato said. “We’ve got a great group of girls who have been doing a lot for this program and are ready to step up.”
They made a united effort against Orange Lutheran, ranked third in Division 1. Multiple players recorded field blocks and steals while a committee played center.
Laguna Beach scored the final four goals to erase a 2-1 deficit late in the first half.
Selin scored the go-ahead strike off a pass on the counterattack from Bella Baldridge with 52 seconds left in the half. Selin also delivered the final goal on another counter, turning a save and long outlet pass from Parker into a strike on a cross-cage lob.
“Love playing with them,” Parker said of the Fischers. “We have to look for other people to put away shots, to do big things in big moments, and it’s going to come from everyone.”
Kelsey Tyler and Emma Skelly scored power-play goals for the Lancers, who finished 2 for 9. Laguna Beach went 2 for 7.
Tyler added two steals, an assist and a save.
In another game at the showcase:
No. 9 Huntington Beach 10, No. 5 El Toro 8: Julia Rozolis-Hill scored five goals and Marina Hyham made 12 saves to lead the Oilers (4-4).
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
