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IRVINE — Laguna Beach and Beckman’s boys water polo teams both aspire to compete in the deep end for the playoffs.
In the CIF Southern Section, that’s the Open Division.
Laguna Beach reached those fierce waters last season, and showed its hunger for a return trip on Saturday.
The Breakers road their counterattack to a fast start and used two penalty shot blocks by goalie Henry Day to hold off host Beckman16-12 in a season-opening clash between teams in the Orange County preseason Top 10.
End 1st: Laguna Beach 5, Beckman 3, season opener for two OC ranked teams pic.twitter.com/dPTMaFjPwG
— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) August 22, 2026
Laguna Beach’s defensive pressure produce four counterattack strikes in the first period and a 5-3 lead. The No. 5 Breakers led by as many as eight goals in the second half with a 13-5 cushion late in the third period.
“We’ve been training really hard,” said Laguna Beach attacker Mason Jakle, who scored one of his team-high four goals on the counter. “We just had our Hell Week. We’ve been conditioning a lot. We’ve been preparing for this moment.”
“We’re all very gifted swimmers,” the junior added, “(and) it shows through our counter that we’re in shape.”
The counterattack, Laguna Beach coach Camron Hauer noted, started with the Breakers’ ability to press and guard center well with Navy commit Dane Seybold and Finnegan Leverty. The latter added two assists in the opening frame while Mason Grubba added one.
“I’m stoked,” Hauer said of the counterattack. “We got some good guards so we can press out and counter early. We got a lot of good facilitators who want to set up their teammates.”
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Henry, a 6-foot-5 senior, blocked penalty shots in the third and fourth periods en route to seven saves.
No. 7 Beckman finished 1 for 4 on penalty shots while Laguna Beach went 3 for 3 with Jakle shooting.
“I’m always tracking the ball,” Henry said of his penalty saves. “I’m never really looking at the shooter. I’m always just looking for the ball, going up initially and then making my reaction after.”
Leverty flashed his offensive skills at center with two goals, including one a quick backhanded shot in the third.
Laguna Beach reached the Open Division for the first time since 2021 last season. The Breakers went 0-3 in group play but want another crack at the elite level.
“You want to be the best you can possibly be and you want to battle the best teams possible,” Hauer said.
Beckman sophomore Drake Hamilton scored a match-high five goals, including two in the fourth. The utility player added three assists.
“He’s going to be monster,” Beckman coach Duje Grubisic of Hamilton.
Beckman, a Division 1 qualifier last season, hurt itself by going 4 for 14 with the extra attacker. Laguna Beach went 2 for 8.
“We didn’t come to play fully today,” Grubisic said. “It’s a very young team.”
Beckman played without sophomore Nathaniel Gluzman-Chuang (injured) and Crean Lutheran sitout transfer Connor McTaggart.
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