GIRLS WATER POLO
CIF Division 1 breakdown
Defending champion: Laguna Beach
Top 4 seeds: No. 1 Laguna Beach, No. 2 Foothill, No. 3 Newport Harbor, No. 4 Corona del Mar
Darkhorse: Newport Harbor. The Sailors have the best goalie in the division and perhaps the nation in Carlee Kapana so if anyone is capable of a major upset or two, it’s Newport Harbor. Playing for retiring Coach Bill Barnett is another boost.
Best first-round game: Los Al at Dos Pueblos of Goleta. These are two prideful programs and neither will go quietly. Dos Pueblos edged Los Al, 9-8, last month at the Santa Barbara TOC. The Griffins have cooled off down the stretch but remain talented enough to reach the quarterfinals.
Ten players to watch: Dan Albano’s picks
Dan Albano’s predicted champion: Laguna Beach.
Ten under-rated players to The Breakers have shown virtually no weaknesses and are coming off arguably their best performance of the season at the Irvine SoCal Champs.
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