It’s back to business in youth polo

After taking the month of August to enjoy the remnants of summer, the Laguna Beach Age Group Water Polo 14-and-Under team returned to business last weekend by opening its new season.

The squad, coached by Chad Beeler and Nick McConnell, had just one week to get in shape for the new season and proved worthy of the challenge by winning four of its first five matches.

Laguna 11, North Irvine 6

In control from start to finish, Laguna rolled past North Irvine.

Nolan McConnell had a deadly shot from the outside and finished with a match-best four goals. Teammates Riley Browne and Spencer Dodson countered McConnell’s outside prowess by providing balance in Laguna’s inside game. The duo combined to score four more goals on inside passes, rebounds, and loose-ball scrambles in front of the goal.

Kirk Knott also got into the scoring act from the outside by planting two goals and Hunter French swam in a goal from the outside.

Laguna 10, Club SET 6

Laguna’s next weekend match came against rival Club SET, a strong team that had recently defeated the locals in the Junior Olympics 12-U gold medal match.

Laguna, however, was able to even the score.

Spencer Dodson, consistently fed passes by his teammates in front of the SET goal, powered his way for six goals. Colin Garber, a newcomer to the Laguna team, scored twice from the outside. Riley Browne and Nile Kogel capped Laguna’s scoring with one goal each.

The play of goalie Erik Henrikson also figured prominently in the victory.

Laguna 8, SoCal 6

Laguna overcame an early start — 8 a.m. — and a three-goal deficit, to rally past SoCal.

Other scores:

Corona del Mar 13, Laguna 8

Laguna 8, Riverside 5

The Laguna Beach 14-U boys’ water polo team is Dodson, French, Kogel, Knott, McConnell, Browne, Henrikson, Garber, Jack Clark, Ethan Damoto, Nicky Brunner, Camron Hauer, Dylan Payne and Tommy Renner.