Laguna girls’ polo takes title at Villa Park Classic

Breakers exceed expectations, down host team, 9-8.Rick McKee knew he had the talent on his team, but he went into last weekend’s Villa Park Classic with a low profile.

“I tried to keep my expectations down,” the Laguna Beach High girls’ water polo coach said. “I knew that we had the ability, but it is early in the season. We haven’t worked a lot on offense or defense. We played very well.”

The Breakers far exceeded their coach’s expectations by winning the tournament title.

Laguna survived the 32-team field by defeating host Villa Park, 9-8, in the final.

McKee chalked up the Breakers’ championship run to “defense and conditioning.”

Previously, the best a Laguna team had ever fared in the event was third place.

In first-round play, Laguna went on the defensive to shut down Pioneer, 17-0. In the second-round, the Breakers recorded a 13-7 win over Rosary.

In quarterfinal round action, Laguna edged Arlington, 10-9, then disposed of Riverside Poly, 11-6, in a semifinal match.

In a championship final pitting two of the top CIF-Southern Section Division II teams, Laguna goalie Celia Huling came up with a monster block with 19 seconds remaining to protect the lead in what turned out to be a 9-8 Breaker victory.

Huling blocked a shot attempt by Villa Park’s standout center, Cassie Churnside.

Huling, in just her seventh varsity game in goal, came up with 11 blocks and was named all-tournament.

Jessica McKee -- whose all-around play earned her tournament MVP honors -- and freshman teammate Anika Dries led Laguna in scoring with three goals each.

McKee scored two crucial goals in the fourth quarter of the championship final.

Junior Breanna Duplisea, freshman Taylor Dodson and Brittany Forrest each scored once for the Breakers.

Dupliesa, also an all-tournament pick, showed why she is considered an “incredible defensive player,” Rick McKee said, by completely shutting down Churnside, denying her any “natural” goals.

Laguna begins play today at the San Clemente Tournament against the El Toro B team at Capistrano Valley High. Match time is 2:30 p.m.20051216irkbrhncDON LEACH / COASTLINE PILOT(LA)Laguna Beach’s Anika Dries shoots into the net against Edison High Wednesday. Laguna Beach picked up its eighth win of the season by defeating visiting Edison, 10-7, in nonleague play.