Laguna youth polo teams medal

Laguna Beach Age Water Polo’s 14-and-Under girls’ team won three of four matches last weekend to take second-place at their first big tournament of the new season, WinterFest 2007, in Los Alamitos.

The tournament drew 16 teams. Laguna was ranked first in its eight-team bracket and opened play with two easy victories on Saturday, then concluded the tournament with two more matches on Sunday.

Laguna’s boys’ 14-and-Under team won the bronze medal by finishing third in its tournament.

Girls

Under-14 Division

Santa Barbara 5, Laguna 4

In a tense division final on Sunday, Santa Barbara scored the go-ahead goal in the final 30 seconds, then withstood a missed shot by Laguna to claim the title Sunday.

Laguna took a 2-1 lead in the first quarter, its first goal coming on a lob shot by Melina Masson that was set up off a steal by Kelsey Thorton. The second came off a steal by Edy Manetta and a pass from Yoshi Andersen resulted in a goal by Candyce Schroeder.

Santa Barbara converted a long-shot goal in the second quarter to make the score 2-2 at the half, then took a 3-2 lead in the third quarter following a player-advantage situation. In the fourth quarter, Jessie Holechek scored on a penalty shot to knot the score at 3-3.

Later in the quarter, Jessica Shusko netted a lob shot off a spin move in the right wing to give Laguna a short-lived 4-3 lead, as Santa Barbara scored on another long shot following a Laguna foul.

Manetta kept Laguna close by recording two saves in the quarter.

Laguna 16, SET 3

The locals used two goals by Jessica Shusko and one by Melina Masson to jump out to a 3-0 lead, and then cruised to the one-sided win in their tournament opener on Saturday.

Shusko and Candyce Schroeder each finished with three goals to lead the offense. Riley Duncan, Jessica Holechek and Lauren Hampton each scored twice and Yoshi Andersen, Hannah Lawson and Nicole Hoes also posted goals.

Laguna 9, Capo Valley 0

Another big first-quarter propelled Laguna to another easy win, this one coming on a rare shutout.

Jessica Shusko drew two early kick outs and Laguna converted both behind the accurate shooting of Yoshi Andersen. Shusko followed by converting a five-meter shot and Candyce Schroeder also scored to give Laguna a 4-0 lead after one quarter.

Schroeder went on to score twice more. Riley Duncan, Kelsey Thorton, and Lauren Hampton also scored.

Laguna 2, Chino Hills 1

On Sunday, Laguna survived a tough semifinal matchup against Chino Hills that was decided in a shootout.

Jessie Holechek scored on Laguna’s first attempt of the shootout and Chino Hills converted its second try. Laguna took the lead for good on a shot by Kelsey Thorton and secured the win when Chino Hill’s final shot hit the post. Edy Manetta also had a key save in the shootout.

Thorton previously had scored in the second quarter and Jessie Holechek scored on a lob shot in the third quarter to move Laguna into a 2-0 lead. Chino Hills scored the final two goals of the match to force the shootout.

Boys

14-and-Under Division

Laguna was one of 32 to compete in the A Division event.

Laguna 10, Huntington Beach 8

Following a tournament-opening, 14-12 win over the Chicago Pool Patriots, Laguna was able to get past Huntington Beach.

Spencer Dodson scored in a variety of ways and led the Laguna offense with four goals. Kirk Knott scored twice, Nile Koegel netted Laguna’s first goal and Hunter French, Nicky Brunner and Samer Alkateb each scored once.

Goalie Erik Henrikson blocked several Huntington shots.

Capo Valley 10, Laguna 1

Nicky Brunner scored on a shot from the outside and that was all the scoring Laguna cold muster in falling to Capo Valley.

Laguna 11, Davis 9

In a back-and-forth match in the bronze medal game, Laguna survived a rambunctious Davis team to bring home third-place.

Nolan McConnell scored from the outside and on skip shots to lead Laguna with five goals. Spencer Dodson scored three times and Jack Clark, Hunter French and Kirk Knott each scored once.

Laguna’s 14-U boys water polo team is coached by Trevor Dodson and includes players Spencer Dodson, Hunter French, Jack Clark, Colin Garber, Kirk Knott, Nolan McConnell, Nicky Brunner, Samer Alkateb, Nile Koegel, Erik Henrikson, Zane Cornwell and Tyler Mancuso.