Youth poloists open winter season

Boys’ 14-and-under team finishes eighth in tournament at Fallbrook.The Laguna Beach Age Group Water Polo 12-and-under coed A team won its division championship at the FAST Water Polo Tournament at Fallbrook.

Laguna Beach defeated its five opponents by combining a high-scoring offense with a stingy defense in winning five games by lopsided scores.

In the division final, Laguna pulled away from Las Vegas, 11-4, to win the title. The Las Vegas coach and one parent were ejected from the pool site during the match.

Laguna’s Nolan McConnell was named MVP of the tournament.

Laguna’s 12-and-under coed team is comprised of McConnell, Riley Browne, Nicky Brunner, Robert Clemens, Cameron Hauer, Erik Henrikson, Alia Manetta, Dylan Payne, Candyce Schroeder, Kelsey Thornton and coach Chad Beeler.

In girls’ action:

14-and-under division

Laguna traveled to north San Diego County last weekend to participate in the first FAST Open at Wave Waterpark in Vista.

Laguna posted a 3-1 record to finish in third place.

Laguna 18, North Shore Aquatics 0

Jessie Holechek, Melena Masson, Lauren Hampton and Jessica Shusko each scored three goals, Hannah Lawson and Riley Duncan added two each and Yoshi Andersen and Kacky Brown each had one for Laguna.

Laguna 12, FAST 6

Laguna took a 5-0 lead over the host team in the first quarter and rolled to its second victory.

Melena Masson, Lauren Hampton each scored twice and Jessie Holechek,Emily Rubino, Edy Manetta, Kacky Brown, Hannah Lawson and Lexy Ross all scored once.

Los Angeles 8, Laguna 7

Laguna jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but Los Angeles Water Polo Club won this seesaw battle in overtime.

Lexy Ross led Laguna with five goals, and Hannah Lawson and Jessie Holechek each scored once.

Laguna 8, Gold Coast 5

Yoshi Andersen scored three goals, Lexy Ross two and Lauren Hampton, Melena Masson and Riley Duncan one each as Laguna won the tournament’s third-place game.

In boys’ action:

14-and-under division

Laguna 15, North San Diego 9

David Brunner scored five goals to help lead Laguna past the Stars.

Robert Chew posted four goals, Spencer Dodson had three, Robbie Quellmalz two and Derek Knott one.

Hunter French had four saves. Casey Conners, Jack Clark, Cole Kennedy and Kirk Knott led the defense.

Los Alamitos 9, Laguna 6

In a fast-paced battle, Los Alamitos took an early lead, then held off Laguna.

David Brunner scored three goals, Robbie Quellmalz two and Robert Chew one. Casey Conners had one assist and Hunter French blocked eight shots in goal and had a pair of steals.

San Diego Pacific 6, Laguna 5

San Diego Pacific scored the game-winning goal in sudden death overtime.

Laguna had rallied from a 4-1 halftime deficit. They closed to within 4-2 on a goal by David Brunner. Brunner went on to score twice early in the fourth quarter to bring the score to 5-4. With 24 seconds left on the clock, Brunner struck again to tie the score. Hunter French came up with a big save with eight seconds left to send the game into sudden-death overtime.

Laguna missed two shot attempts in overtime, and San Diego Pacific converted its second shot attempt into the game-winning score.

South Bay 8, Laguna 7

Laguna went into sudden death overtime for the second consecutive match and came out on the short end of the scoreboard in the tournament’s seventh-place game.

David Brunner scored two goals, including one with 11 seconds left to tie the match at 7-7 and force overtime. Spencer Dodson and Casey Conners also scored goals for Laguna; Dodson, Kirk Knott, Cole Kennedy and Cody Alter paced the defense. Hunter French had two saves in the final quarter to prevent South Bay from scoring.

In overtime, South Bay won the opening sprint, called a timeout, and then scored the winning goal on a shot from mid pool.