GOLETA – Laguna Beach’s Aria Fischer threaded a quick pass through the Mater Dei defense to a driving Bella Baldridge, who redirected the ball for the prettiest goal of the match.
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But it was Fischer’s reaction to the third-period play in the finals of the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions girls water polo event that spoke louder Saturday night at Dos Pueblos.
The Olympic gold medalist splashed in delight about a connection in a midseason tournament.
The No. 1 Breakers again played with the passion of a group hungry to taste success for the first time.
But Fischer and Laguna Beach are indeed accomplished, and the combination to beat in Division 1 after an 11-6 victory against the No. 3 Monarchs.
“We got a group of girls that really love each other,” said Laguna Beach coach Ethan Damato, whose school captured the tournament for third time in four seasons.
“We know she (Fischer) wants it. She’s one of the most passionate people I’ve ever coached … but we also have a passionate group around her.”
Girls water polo POTD: Saturday
Laguna Beach (14-0) needed the enthusiasm as Mater Dei (10-3) scored the first two goals in its first TOC final and gave the Breakers their closest game.
After two early strikes by Mater Dei’s Grace Thawley, Laguna Beach netted six consecutive goals to open a 6-2 lead early in the third period.
Fischer, selected tournament MVP, sparked the run with a well-placed perimeter strike but the surge featured a hustling rebound goal by Sophia Lucas, a perimeter strike off the side-post by Evan Tingler and a steal by a racing Isabel Riches that led to a cross-cage lob from Claire Sonne.
“We were battled tested … and I thought we needed that,” Damato said.
Fischer finished with one goal but was part of the pressure that contributed to Thawley fouling out with 2:43 left in the third. Sonne scored a match-high four goals while Baldridge added three.
Thea Walsh made seven saves to anchor Laguna Beach’s defense but was excluded for splashing a shooter on a breakaway shot she blocked in the fourth.
In the semifinals, Mater Dei edged Dos Pueblos, 9-8, in sudden-death overtime on a penalty drawn and converted by Thawley. Goalie Marley Presiado blocked three penalty shots for the Monarchs.
Mater Dei fell to Laguna Beach, 17-3, in the semifinals of the Holiday Cup, but that was without transfer Bella Baia.
Another key ingredient for Mater Dei on Saturday was holding Laguna Beach to a 2-for-7 effort on the power-play (the Monarchs went 1 for 4).
“We’re real excited just how far we’ve come,” Mater Dei coach Chris Segesman said. “We controlled the counterattack … (Laguna Beach’s) bread-and-butter. We’ll have to continue to just get better so we can compete with them when February comes.”
In the fifth-place match:
No. 2 Orange Lutheran 4, No. 5 Foothill 3: Hannah Palmer drew an exclusion and scored a power-play goal with 19 seconds left as the Lancers (14-2) rallied from a 3-1 deficit at halftime. Orange Lutheran goalie Alyssa Barnuevo and Foothill goalie Molly DiLalla each blocked penalty shots.
“We’ve been just squeaking by everything,” said Orange Lutheran coach Steve Carrera, whose team beat Huntington Beach, 8-6, in the fifth-place semifinals earlier Saturday. “Our defense is strong … (but) I don’t think we beat Foothill again scoring four goals.”
Palmer, a sophomore, racked up five goals, five steals and drew five exclusions against the Oilers.
Foothill knocked off No. 4 Corona del Mar, 4-3, in the other fifth-place semifinal. The Knights scored four goals in the third period after both teams were scoreless in the first half. DiLalla made 16 saves, including three against the Sea Queens’ power-play.
“Our defense definitely improved this weekend,” Foothill coach Jessy Cardey said. “We gave up seven goals today. That’s really good, against two good teams. … Molly played great.”
Foothill led, 4-0, after a goal by Erin Gordon with 2:12 left in the third period.
Contact the writer: dalbano@scng.com
