Laguna’s depth is too much

Ethan Damato said that the biggest game on the calendar for his Laguna Beach High boys’ water polo team was Wednesday’s meeting with Costa Mesa.

And for good reason, since it was a match-up that ended up having Orange Coast League title implications.

It was simple: The winner of the showdown at the Laguna pool would emerge as the 2008 champion.

Laguna, who had won the previous two titles in the league’s first two years of existence, showed just why it’s considered the league’s elite team.

The Breakers firmly entrenched themselves in their lofty position by trouncing the Mustangs, 20-8.

“We had been talking about this game for a few weeks and our guys were ready for this game,” Damato said. “They were ready for this one.”

Both teams had entered the game at 3-0 in league play, but Laguna, as it had in several previous games, came on strong in the fourth quarter to win going away.

The Breakers led, 7-3, at the end of the first quarter and were up, 10-5, at the half. In the second half, they blitzed the Mustangs, outscoring them, 10-3.

“I was impressed with how our guys put them away in that fourth quarter,” said Damato, adding that his team has won eight of its last 10 games. “What’s really impressive to me is that in the last three or four games, we have blown teams out in the fourth quarter. Our guys are well-conditioned and it’s showing. We’re coming on strong at the right time of the season.

“This is a real nice win for us. Costa Mesa definitely has two of the better players in our league, but we have seven or eight and we thought that we could overwhelm them. We’re playing better and better each week.”

The Costa Mesa players Damato was referring to are the Serrano brothers, Cody and Dustin, who accounted for six of the Mustangs’ eight goals, with Cody posting five of them.

But Laguna countered with a well-balanced, spread-out scoring attack headed by Nolan McConnell and David Brunner, who each scored five goals. Victor Alcone and Preston Head each contributed four goals and Brett Thompson and Robert Chew both scored once.

Freshman goalie Erik Henrikson, who Damato said “really anchors our defense,” had five saves. He came into the game averaging 12 saves in his last three outings at the Servite Tournament.

Laguna, ranked fourth in the CIF Division III poll, finishes up play today and Saturday at the Servite Tournament. The Breakers face Northwood at 5:45 p.m. today at the Santa Ana Valley High pool. On Saturday, they are guaranteed two more games, but won’t know who they will play until today’s action is in the books.

In a previous match, Laguna stepped out of league play to take on Redlands on Saturday, posting. a 12-7 victory over the fifth-ranked Terriers.

Nolan McConnell scored twice and Victor Alcone, Brett Thompson, Robbie Quellmalz and Spencer Dodson each posted a goal through the first three quarters, and goalie Erik Henrikson had several blocks.

In tournament play Monday and Tuesday at Santa Margarita High, Laguna defeated Long Beach Millikan (11-5) and Santa Margarita (12-9), but lost to Loyola (9-4).