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Laguna Beach and Los Alamitos each overcame their share of obstacles to meet Thursday in the first round of the CIF-SS Division 1 boys water polo playoffs.
The Breakers reached the postseason without any returning starters from their Division 1 runner-up squad last season.
The Griffins emerged from the challenging Sunset League with interim coach Robert Grayeli, who took the helm early in the season following the resignation of veteran Dave Carlson.
Both teams showed their resolve but Laguna Beach performed better under pressure to secure a 13-11 victory at Sage Hill.
Junior Dylan Williams snapped a 9-9 deadlock with an after-goal strike with 44 seconds left in the third period and contributed to the first two goals of the fourth to help power Breakers (18-13) into Wednesday’s quarterfinals against third-seeded Mira Costa.
Junior goalie Max Jakle led Laguna Beach’s defense by making six of his 14 saves in the fourth quarter, including several early in the frame.
It was a clutch performance for a squad that didn’t start a senior.
“It takes off a lot of pressure,” third-year Laguna Beach coach Camron Hauer said. “It proves that they can play with the big dogs. Los Al was playing really good. That first (playoff) game with such a young group is just so nerve-racking.”
Williams finished with six goals. He dished a slick pass to senior Sam Skendarian on the wing for first goal of the fourth quarter and an 11-9 lead. Williams netted a power-play goal about a minute later for a 12-9 advantage and the Breakers had their cushion.
Skendarian scored three goals off the bench to lead a deeper Laguna Beach squad.
Sebastian Mok, a junior, scored six goals to lead Los Alamitos (17-13). The Griffins recovered from a pair of two-goal deficits in the second half to briefly take an 8-7 lead with 3:13 left in the third period.
It was the same resiliency Los Alamitos showed with Grayeli in the Sunset League. The team finished in a three-way tie for third place but beat Huntington Beach for third place and its first playoff appearance since 2021.
“He was able to get us together as a team,” Mok said of Grayeli, who coached Laguna Beach in 2018. “We didn’t fall apart.”
Los Alamitos sophomore goalie Canon Schilling made six of his eight saves in a strong first period. Senior left-hander Weston Swank and freshman Parker Day each added two goals.
The Griffins went 0 for 3 with the extra attacker in the fourth period to finish 1 for 7. Laguna Beach went 3 for 9.
In another Division 1 game:
Westlake 13, Portola 12: Senior Ryder Tonkovich scored nine goals to lead the Pacific Coast League champion Bulldogs (13-13), who nearly upset the No. 1 seed.
More results to come.
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