IRVINE – Laguna Beach’s girls water polo team is led by demanding Coach Ethan Damato but he acknowledged Saturday that his Breakers have surpassed even his lofty expectations.
And it was hard to disagree after top-ranked Laguna Beach defended its title at the Irvine Southern California Championships by defeating No. 2 Foothill, 11-4, in the final at William Woollett Aquatics Center.
The Breakers (25-0) fired on their regular cylinders with Makenzie Fischer (six goals) leading the offense and goalie Holly Parker (10 saves) anchoring the defense. But Laguna Beach’s 46th consecutive victory and sixth consecutive tournament title felt more dominant because of a newfound quickness on offense and near-perfect power-play defense.
Laguna Beach scored the first six goals and didn’t allow a goal until almost two minutes into the second half. The Breakers are the defending CIF Division 1 champions but did Damato expect this level of dominance?
“We hoped we could be here but it wasn’t my expectation,” he said. “We have a great team. I got two of the best players in the world (in the Fischer sisters) and a cast around them that won state championships (in the summer) without them and won Fall Fling without the Fischers.
“You throw those girls in the mix, it’s pretty scary.”
Makenzie Fischer, a member of the U.S. national team, netted four of her goals on the counterattack en route to claiming the tournament’s outstanding field player award for the second straight year. Aria Fischer added two goals, two assists and three steals.
But Laguna Beach’s attack also featured quick-strike goals from Mia Salvini and Haley Evans and five assists from lefty Bella Baldridge.
“We’re just really clicking with each other and making the right reads,” said Makenzie Fischer, who helped Laguna Beach improve to 4-0 against the Knights (22-4). “We’re making lots of improvements.”
Laguna Beach went 3 for 9 on the power-play and held Foothill to 0 for 4 with the extra attacker. Makenzie Fischer and Baldridge each blocked power-play shots in the third. Cana Manzella scored twice from center in the fourth for the Knights.
“They deserve where they’re at,” Foothill coach Jim Brumm said of Laguna Beach. “They’re a good enough team that if we make a mistake, they make us pay.”
In the third-place match:
No. 3 Newport Harbor 9, San Marcos 3: Carlee Kapana, selected the tournament’s outstanding goalie, made 16 saves and didn’t allow a goal in the second half as the Sailors (18-6) finished third for the third consecutive tournament. Chanel Schilling, Emma Erickson, Kate Pipkin and Ellie Reid each scored twice for Newport Harbor. “We played well,” Sailors coach Bill Barnett said. “We played good defense and had balanced scoring.”
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
