Sophomore Jake Markle and freshman lefty Ash Molthen each scored three goals and sophomore goalie Jake Simmons made eight saves as Orange Lutheran’s No. 10 boys water polo team knocked off No. 2-ranked Laguna Beach, 11-9, in the second round of the South Coast Tournament at Newport Harbor on Thursday night.
The Lancers (7-2) will play at Newport Harbor (4-6) in the quarterfinals Friday night at 6.
Newport Harbor edged Servite, 9-8, in overtime in the second round to advance. The Newport Harbor-Servite game was one of three second-round matches that went to sudden-death overtime on a highly-competitive opening day of the 32-team tournament.
Max Weber scored four goals for the Friars (8-4).
Orange Lutheran led, 7-6, going into the fourth period and held on to become the surprise of the tournament during its maiden journey. The Lancers were seeded fourth in their group.
“We play composed,” Orange Lutheran coach Steve Carrera said in a text message. “We never panicked and played with a lot of maturity, especially in the second half. We played good defense in the third quarter, which gave us some momentum.
“Laguna is a great team and we were fortunate that the ball bounced our way and we were able to capitalize.”
Tournament No. 3 seed Laguna Beach led, 5-3, at halftime but the Lancers took the third, 4-1. Carrera said a no-look shot from 10 meters for a goal by freshman Matt Kacura in the fourth was the “back-breaker” for the Breakers.
In the first round, Orange Lutheran defeated Villa Park, 15-10, behind four goals by Markle and three apiece by Kacura, Molthen and Garrett Zaan.
In other second-round games:
The Bishop’s of La Jolla 8, Foothill 7 (OT): Junior Zack La Grande, MVP of the 16-and-under division at the Junior Olympics for champion San Diego Shores, scored from center in sudden-death overtime at Foothill as the The Bishop’s upset the tournament’s No. 4 seed. The Bishop’s (9-1) takes on Huntington Beach in the quarterfinals on Friday night at Foothill at 6. The Oilers feature several players from the Vanguard club that lost to the JO finals to Shores.
Mike Miller netted five goals for Foothill (4-3).
Dana Hills 13, Agoura 12 (OT): Marko Asic scored with 22 seconds left in regulation at Santa Margarita to force overtime and Nick Jansen scored off a pass Matthew Honey to give the Dolphins (4-5) the victory in sudden-death overtime.
On Friday, Dana Hills will take on top-seeded and four-time defending tournament champion Mater Dei, which beat San Clemente, 22-12, in the second round at Santa Margarita. Nick Silvers scored five goals for Mater Dei (7-1).
The No. 10 Tritons (4-2) reached the Round of 16 by edging the host Eagles in overtime, 8-7.
In the other quarterfinals Friday:
Corona del Mar will play host to second-seeded Loyola of Los Angeles at 6 p.m.
