Mater Dei, the top-ranked team in CIF-SS Division 1, won the tournament.
In a key, Division 3 game Tuesday that pitted Laguna against Mira Costa, the No. 1-ranked Breakers downed the fifth-ranked Mustangs, 18-7. Nolan McConnell netted eight goals with four assists and four steals, Camron Hauer had five goals, two assists and three steals and Riley Thomas three goals, two assists and four steals. Tommy Renner, Nicky Brunner and Samer Alkateb all scored once. Alkateb also had an assist and three steals. Erik Henrikson had 13 saves and also had two steals and one assist.
Laguna, which improved to 5-1, bolted to a 6-0 first-quarter lead and was up, 10-2, by the half.
"We knew going into the Santa Barbara Tournament that we would get four high-level games and that is exactly what we got," Laguna Coach Ethan Damato said. "Although we lost our first game and did not finish as highly as we would have liked, we had a goal of going 3-1 in the tournament and that is what we did. We beat three good teams and came back a better team with a better idea of where we need to improve.
"We played very well on both ends of the pool against Mira Costa. The guys were fired up for a divisional game and came out strong in the first half. Camron Hauer had a great game."
The Breakers are competing Friday and Saturday ) at the South Coast-Newport Harbor Tournament. The tournament, which began Thursday is being played at serval high school pools. The Breakers are the No. 2 seed in their bracket, which is headed by Mater Dei. Also in the bracket is Capistrano Valley, Vista, Northwood, San Clemente, Granite Hills and Buena Park. Games will be played at the Capo Valley pool.
Laguna placed ninth at last year's tournament.
