Field Hockey: Sailors handle Vikings

Newport Harbor High field hockey players might be forgiven for their indifference to Coach Amanda Boyer’s cautionary halftime tale.

With a 4-0 lead over host Marina at intermission, after all, the Sailors had already produced enough to fend off the total number of goals they had allowed in their previous nine games this season (three).

So, while Boyer expressed postgame disappointment that her players were “deflated” in the second half, a 4-1 Sunset League victory over the Vikings should be enough to sustain the good feelings that have come with a 7-1-2 season, 4-1 in league.

Further, Newport Harbor’s impressive start – scoring in the opening minute and constructing its insurmountable cushion in barely more than 21 minutes – should help Boyer forgive and forget, heading into Thursday’s crucial rematch with first-place Huntington Beach.

The Oilers, who are the visiting team in the game at Huntington Beach on Thursday at 3:15 p.m. (Huntington Beach is allowing Newport to use its field as its home site, while the Tars’ stadium is undergoing renovations), are responsible for the Sailors’ lone defeat this season. The Oilers earned a 1-0 triumph to open league play on Sept. 20.

For its part, Marina (4-5, 2-3), might be justifiably buoyed by its strong second half, in which it outscored the Sailors, thanks to a goal by sophomore Jade Alaniz in the 38th minute.

“I thought we played well,” said Marina Coach Shelly Luth, who was quick to credit the visitors.

“[The Sailors, who have outscored opponents, 21-4, this season] are very good,” Luth said. “They have great speed and great ball movement.”

Boyer was pleased with her team’s first-half performance, which included goals from sophomore Chloe Bagiu, senior Kendall Machado, as well as senior tri-captains Georgia Yokoyama and Jackie Singer.

Bagiu pushed a loose ball into the goal to open the scoring just 53 seconds into the contest, while Yokoyama redirected a shot from the doorstep to double the lead with 21:22 left in the first half.

Singer settled the ball, before unleashing a scoring backhand in the 16th minute, while Machado converted an assist by senior Mckenzie Porteous to cap the first-half onslaught.

Boyer praised the ball movement of Singer, as well as the defense efforts of senior Katie Hendrix and junior Rylee Warmington.

Marina received strong play from Alaniz, junior defender Erica Jiang, sophomore captain Rebecca Blair and junior midfielder Megan Meyer.

Luth also credited the aggressive play of junior goalie Sage Malvin, who repeatedly sprinted and slid into potentially dangerous collisions to stop shots and/or Newport Harbor scoring chances.