Laguna Beach’s under 14 and 12 girls water polo teams took second and third respectively in a nine-team tournament, the OC Cup, held last weekend at Irvine’s William Woollett Aquatics Complex. The under 12s easily won their first game against the Irvine Anteater Club 14 to 7. In their second game against last year’s nemesis, Newport Beach, Laguna got out to a great start, leading by nine goals in the fourth quarter. Newport mounted a great rally but Laguna won 13-10.
The two wins put the under 12s in the medal round, where Laguna lost both matches, against Socal and the Corona club team United.
“Most girls on this team are brand new to water polo and for some girls, this was their first tournament,” said club director, Chad Beeler.
In the first round of games, the under 14s Laguna defeated SET, from El Toro, 8-2. Their second game was also against Newport, winning 3-2.
The 14s also entered the preliminary round robin, prevailing first against the Inland Empire’s, Xtreme 7-5. In the game to determine the gold medal winner, Laguna faced the nation’s top team, Tustin’s Socal. The defensive battle was tied up 3-3 in the fourth-quarter. When one of Laguna’s defenders fouled out of the game at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Socal took advantage. Laguna lost the match to win silver.
