Breakers tame Mustangs

Coach Rick McKee believes his Laguna Beach High boys’ water polo team is picking up some steam for the second half of the season.

Wednesday afternoon at the Laguna pool, the Breakers added to that momentum when they defeated Costa Mesa, 13-7, in an Orange Coast League contest.

Laguna is now 3-0 and in sole possession of first-place at the halfway point of the Orange Coast League race. The Breakers, ranked fifth in this week’s CIF Southern Section Division II poll, improved their overall record to 10-7.

“We’re really building up some nice momentum heading into the second half of the season,” McKee said. “I’m real happy with the way the boys are playing.”

The Breakers never trailed Wednesday against Costa Mesa. They took a 3-1 lead after one quarter and extended their advantage over the Mustangs to 9-2 by the half.

McKee substituted freely in the second half in a match Laguna was expected to win.

“It was our first game since the loss to Northwood and we were a little flat,” McKee said. “Our guys were not expecting a close match. They didn’t have the intensity that I had hoped for, but it was to be expected.”

Nathan McConnell powered his way to five goals to lead a Laguna offense that saw Peter Phelps score four goals and Cameron Brinkman add three. Junior Sean Dorse netted his first varsity goal.

Harrison Phelps continued to impress McKee with his play in goal. The sophomore, who has replaced Warren Murrell as the starter since the Villa Park Tournament Sept. 28-30, finished with 10 saves.

“He’s playing very well,” McKee said of Harrison Phelps.

Laguna faces a stiff challenge Saturday when the Breakers play at Newport Harbor. The Sailors are ranked sixth in Division I.

Match time is 5:45 p.m., preceded at 5 p.m. by the frosh-soph match and followed at 6:45 by the junior varsity match.

On Tuesday, Laguna travels to Aliso Niguel for another nonleague match (4 p.m.) and then begins the second-half of Orange Coast League play Wednesday by hosting Sage Hill at 3:15 p.m.