Locals claim Mikasa title

Laguna Beach Age Group Water Polo’s Under-18 girls’ team brought home the first-place trophy from the Mikasa Cup at the Woollett Center in Irvine.

The two-day event culminated Saturday. Laguna began the tournament Friday with an 8-0 shutout of Golden West and followed that win with a 7-5 victory over Foothill of Upland. In early action Saturday, the locals blew past La Mirada, 10-4, to earn a spot in the semifinals round.

In that semifinal match, Laguna blasted Rose Bowl, 16-3. The win set up a rematch against Foothill in the tournament’s title game and Laguna again won, this time by a 9-4 score.

Laguna, though, came out flat in the final and trailed 1-0. The score could have been worse had Edy Manetta not come up with a huge save and block of a five-meter shot attempt.

Jesse Holechek brought Laguna into a 1-1 tie with a goal in the second quarter. After another save by Manetta, Jessica Shusko posted her first goal to put Laguna on top, 2-1. Foothill tied the score moments later by scoring off a scramble in front of the Laguna goal but Holechek scored again, this time from the outside, to give Laguna a 3-2 lead at the half. Laguna wouldn’t trail again.

In the second half, Laguna turned up the defensive pressure, and Manetta remained in top form. Shusko shut down a very physical Foothill hole set with help from Kaitlyn Waidley, Lida De Groote and Hanna Fait. Shusko drew a kick out after a defensive stop, and Lauren Hampton scored to give Laguna a 4-2 lead. Foothill then scored on a lob, but Hampton retaliated by scoring on a bullet shot form the outside to make it 5-3.

Early in the fourth quarter, Manetta stood up a Foothill shooter and then Holechek drew a kick-out. Hampton scored again for a 6-3 advantage.

Laguna then ran an over the top set that saw Manetta find Riley Duncan open down the seam. Duncan drew the defender and tossed the ball to Holechek who went in for an easy score.

Manetta made another key save and Laguna pulled away. Holechek scored on a five-meter shot and Duncan scored after a steal and long sprint to send Laguna to a 9-4 victory.