Club polo teams are victorious

Boys’ under-12 team eases past Riverside.Racing ahead from the opening whistle and never looking back, the Laguna Beach Age Group Water Polo 12-and-under boys’ team picked up a 9-6 victory over Riverside.

Curt Knott set the tone for Laguna with a quick score, which was followed by a Nicky Brunner-to-Nolan McConnell combination. McConnell went on to post four more goals before the end of the match. Teammate Nile Koegal scored twice -- one coming on a long bomb -- and Riley Browne once.

Laguna played aggressively in the match. It rebounded three of its own shots on goal off the posts and crossbar, converting each into quick goals. Hunter French turned in a strong game in net and was backed by the defensive play of Erik Henrikson, Sebastian Roger, Derek Knott and Tommy Renner.

In other club action:

14-and-Under Division

Laguna 12, Dana Point 5 Laguna rebounded from an earlier loss to Riverside to defeat Dana Point.

Nolan McConnell scored following a steal by Robby Quellmalz and Zach Riegler scored from the deep wing on a pass from Casey Conners to put Laguna into a 2-2 tie after one period.

The teams traded goals again in the second frame, with David Brunner dropping a shot into the corner of the net to give Laguna a 3-2 edge. Dana Point tied the score at 3-3, then pulled ahead on a 4-meter free throw.

Peter Wiedner, who made a pair of nice blocks in the opening quarter, came out of the goal twice in the second period to steal the ball. Teammate Brent Donenfeld scored with 19 seconds left in the half to tie the score, 4-4. Wiedner came up with two more blocks in the third period as Laguna held Dana Point scoreless. Brunner then scored on a breakaway to give Laguna the lead for good, and Hunter French scored after drawing the Dana Point keeper out of the goal later in the period to give Laguna a 6-4 lead.

Laguna pulled away in the fourth on three goals by Robert Chew, two by Donenfeld and one by French.

Riverside 7, Laguna 3

Riverside wiped out a one-goal deficit by posting six consecutive goals to defeat Laguna.

Laguna went on top, 1-0, on a goal by David Brunner in the first period. Robby Quellmalz scored from mid-pool in the second period to put Laguna ahead, 2-1. Riverside dominated play in the third quarter and pulled ahead of Laguna, 7-2. Robert Chew scored after collecting the rebound from his own missed shot in the fourth period to complete the scoring.

Girls’

14- and-Under Division

Laguna 4, Riverside 2

Laguna came on strong defensively in the second half to get past Riverside.

A goal by Lexi Ross in the first 1:30 of the match put Laguna on the scoreboard, but Riverside scored the final two goals of the first period to take a 2-1 lead. Ross also scored on a left-handed shot from hole-set with three minutes remaining in the first half to knot the score at 2-2.

The defense of Melena Masson, Riley Duncan, Jessi Holechek, Yoshi Andersen and keeper Edy Manetta held Riverside scoreless in the period. Laguna took the lead for good in the third period on a goal by Jessica Shusko.

The scoring play, which came from 10 meters out, came following a kick-out and crisp perimeter passing by Laguna. Shusko finished the scoring in the fourth period with a goal from the hole-set position.