Girls’ Water Polo: Sailors can’t keep up with Laguna Beach

With a winning tradition as rich as about any program in the state, it’s not often the Newport Harbor High girls’ water polo team is in a position to be kicked while it is down.

But a dynastic Laguna Beach squad that entered Wednesday’s nonleague game at Newport Harbor with a 56-game winning streak, fashions its style of play based on the concept of exploiting opponents’ weaknesses.

The Breakers (5-0), ranked No. 1 in CIF Southern Section Division 1, did just that to pull away for a 12-5 triumph that dropped the No. 9-ranked Sailors to an uncharacteristic 1-4.

“We’ve played the No. 1 team, and we’ve played No. 3 and No. 4 and we’re eventually going to play a couple more [powerhouse] programs in the early part of the season,” Newport Harbor first-year coach Brian Melstrom said. “We know that is going to make us much better, but it doesn’t look good in the win-loss column.”

The Sailors looked as good as the Breakers early, as the hosts played to a 2-2 deadlock over nearly the first five minutes and were within 4-3 with 3:30 left in the opening half.

But Laguna Beach, which had outscored its first four opponents by a combined 59-10 margin, used its hair-trigger counterattack and power play to score seven straight goals before the Sailors could answer with 4:28 left in the final period.

“Overall, I think we match up really well with [the Breakers],” Melstrom said. “I think in the first half, we did a pretty good job of neutralizing that big counterattack by not taking silly shots or making mistakes on the perimeter that fuel them. Their goal is to wear you down, force you to make mistakes, then capitalize. They certainly did in that third quarter and that was the big turning point.

“I think [the Breakers’] strength is their anticipation. They do a good job of forcing bad shots, or bad-angle shots. And, on the weak side, they are always getting themselves in position to where, if the [opposing] offense gets caught watching at all, or attacks when somebody else is shooting, they go hard on the counterattack and exploit those mistakes. That’s their bread and butter. We knew that going in.”

Laguna Beach scored four counterattack goals and had a handful of additional opportunities with attackers behind the defense. The Breakers also produced four of their goals on five six-on-five situations set up by Sailors’ exclusions.

Conversely, Newport Harbor was one for five during six-on-five advantages and nearly doubled Laguna’s nine turnovers with 17.

Senior co-captains Katie Kearns (three goals) and Maddy Kanzler (seven saves) paced the Tars, but Melstrom was less than generous with praise for his players.

“I really don’t feel like anyone played exceptionally well,” Melstrom said. “I think we did enough to get by in the first half, then we just stated making the mistakes we couldn’t make.

“The lesson for us today is that we have to play an entire game and maintain our focus throughout the hard physicality of a game and not let down in any one component,” Melstrom said. “A team like [Laguna Beach] will exploit you. I think they did a good job of that.”

Junior Bella Baldridge had four goals and three assists to lead the Breakers, who received four goals and one assist from freshman Sophie Legget.

Breakers’ senior goalie Holly Parker made 10 saves and also earned three assists, frequently launching the ball three quarters of the pool to drop it in front of a streaking counterattack target.

“They are on a 57-game winning streak for a reason,” Melstrom said of the Breakers.

Senior Sammi Garcia and junior Claire Tafoya had goals for Newport Harbor, which returns to action on Tuesday in the Holiday Cup. The Sailors play host to Long Beach Poly to open the tournament at 11:45 a.m.