Sailors bow out

The story of Newport Harbor High’s season was displayed in one

play that proved to be the turning point in a crucial Sea View League

girls soccer game between the Sailors and visiting Woodbridge

Tuesday.

Newport senior Amy Burlingham, who had been 6 for 6 on penalty

kicks this season, had her PK blocked early in the second half by

goalie Kaela DeCou. The momentum-swinging save gave way to the

Warriors’ 3-0 victory that knocked the Sailors out of the CIF

Playoffs.

Newport needed to win to force a tie-breaker game for the league’s

third spot.

DeCou, who played a brilliant game, simply guessed right when

Burlingham fired her penalty shot in the 57th minute with Newport

trailing, 1-0. DeCou recorded eight saves on a muddy field amid

sporadic rain.

“No breaks,” Newport Coach Jason Sorrell said in reference to the

Sailors’ season.

Sorrell said the Sailors (5-10-7, 3-4-3) lost in the last minute

in games against El Toro, Esperanza, Irvine and Woodbridge this

season.

“We had those games where we should be there and we just can’t

finish games off,” Sorrell said. “That’s the whole season. No breaks.

No breaks, at all.”

The Warriors (5-2-3 in league) sloshed their way to a goal in the

10th minute, as Danielle Shank finished a cross from her teammate,

Anna Carena. Newport had controlled the game for the most part, and

then in the opening 10 minutes of the second half, the Sailors

dominated.

Burlingham, as well as freshman Amy Klippert and senior Kate

Younglove came up with viable shots on goal, but the strikes would

fade wide or DeCou would be there for the stop. Then, Burlingham, who

will play for the University of Texas next season, drew a foul in the

box to give Newport a chance to tie. Burlingham shot to her left, and

DeCou dived and slapped away the ball with two hands.

Immediately after Burlingham’s shot, a referee blew his whistle

and gave the ball to Woodbridge because he said a Newport player

encroached toward the net, which was illegal.

Two minutes later, Woodbridge scored. The Warriors secured the

win, scoring another goal with five minutes left.

“It was just one of those games and it wasn’t meant to be,”

Sorrell said. “That (save) definitely swung the momentum. If we had

scored it would have definitely given us a spark. Their keeper did a

fabulous job. But it wasn’t meant to be. If I had to pick one player

for that kick, (Burlingham) would be the player I would pick. “

Newport had only two players protecting the back during most of

the second half. The Sailors, led by their seniors Burlingham,

Younglove, Taryn Flamson, Andi Sarris and Tricia Orth, attacked, yet

to no avail. Klippert and junior Barbara Julian also gave the Sailors

scoring chances.