Laguna to face best of the best
You know your program is in good company when it’s invited to the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions.
The Laguna Beach girls’ water polo team was again extended a coveted invite to what is considered one of the top tournaments. The Breakers are in Santa Barbara on Friday and Saturday for the event.
“The Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions is the most elite girls’ water polo tournament in the country,” Laguna Coach Ethan Damato said. “It is a 16-team invitational that changes every year based on who are the top teams from San Luis Obispo to San Diego. There are never any easy games at that tournament and this weekend will be no different. The top eight teams from (CIF) Division 1, the top six teams from D-2 and the No. 1 teams from Division 3 and Division 6 will be there. This tournament is loaded.”
The Breakers open the tournament at 2:30 p.m. Friday against Montebello at Dos Pueblos High in Goleta. If the Breakers win that game, they’ll play the winner of the Newport Harbor-El Toro game at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
The tournament starts up again at 9 a.m. Saturday, leading up to the championship game at 4:35 p.m. at Santa Barbara High.
Last year, Laguna finished sixth at the tournament. The Breakers had fifth-place finishes in 2009 and 2010.
In nonleague play Saturday, Laguna took control early against visiting Coronado and never let up in earning an 18-5 victory. The win improved the Breakers to 10-1. Lexie Del Toro led all scorers with five goals and Sydney Saxe and Makenzie Fischer both scored four.
The Breakers return to Orange Coast League play Wednesday, hosting Estancia at 3:15 p.m.
Twitter: @MikeSciacca