Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week

Courtney McIntosh was honored with Daily Pilot’s Athlete of the Week today! Reporter Matt Szabo wrote the following article (or you can read it at the daily pilot here). Congrats Courtney!

McIntosh a joy for Newport Harbor

Junior stopper, named MVP of the Orange County Tournament, is a key player for Sailors.

Courtney McIntosh likes to smile and laugh.

At times, it makes Newport Harbor High field hockey coach Amanda Boyer feel the opposite way.

“I kind of laugh a lot,” McIntosh said. “I’m serious, but at the same time, I really [play] more to have fun. Sometimes Amanda gets mad at me for laughing too much.”

Playing rival Huntington Beach in field hockey? That’s no joke. But McIntosh, the Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week, delivered Oct. 2.

She scored in penalty strokes in the Orange County Tournament championship game against the Oilers. It was tied 1-1 after strokes, so McIntosh’s strike into the bottom left corner allowed the game to go to sudden-death strokes, where Sailors senior Stephanie Storch scored to give the Sailors a co-title. Both teams finished with one loss in the tournament.

McIntosh, a stopper, was voted MVP of the tournament after helping the Sailors claim the title for the first time since 2006.

Boyer wasn’t at the final; she was in Santa Barbara as a bridesmaid in a friend’s wedding. But she could probably see McIntosh’s big smile in her head after Newport Harbor won.

The first-year varsity coach doesn’t mind it too much. She has seen steady improvement from McIntosh, who she first coached on the junior varsity level two years ago.

“She has a very unique and advanced view of the field,” Boyer said. “She’s very good at having a sense of where all her teammates are, and where the ball needs to go into open space to create plays. She’s a huge leader on the field; she’s a big playmaker.”

McIntosh isn’t quite the baby anymore for Newport Harbor (9-2). She felt that way at times last year, when she made varsity as a sophomore, but she’s used to it. That’s what happens when you’re the youngest of five sisters.

All of Kirk and Sue McIntosh’s daughters — Terra, Krista, Ashley, Alex and now Courtney — have played sports at Harbor. Courtney is also an accomplished soccer player. Like her sisters, she played in the Daily Pilot Cup, the annual youth soccer tournament.

“My dad created it,” she said, laughing again. “I mean, we’re kind of obligated.”

But McIntosh said she recently left her club soccer team, Newport Beach-based Slammers FC. She is getting more serious about being a part of the self-proclaimed “Chix With Stix.”

“This year I decided that if I was going to play college sports, I would definitely rather play field hockey than soccer,” said McIntosh, who does plan to keep playing high school soccer. “It’s more fun-oriented, less serious.”

McIntosh said she was glad to score that penalty stroke against Huntington Beach, after missing twice earlier in the tournament. Momentum can change quick in field hockey, and Boyer is glad her peppy junior is around to lead the charge in converting the Sailors’ defense to offense.

McIntosh is one of several leaders for a defense that also includes senior goalie Sydney King, who was named Most Valuable Goalie at the Orange County Tournament. Sweeper Madeline Storch, Sophie Evans and Natalie Swift also contribute to a Sailors defense that has not allowed a regulation goal in seven games.

Newport is going for its third straight Los Angeles Field Hockey Assn. Tournament of Champions title this year. The main competition again will likely be Huntington Beach.

“They really push us the most,” McIntosh said. “They’re the most fun team to play, I’d say.”

Another win, and she can laugh it up again with her teammates.

“Sometimes I have to tell her to stop smiling,” Boyer said, herself grinning. “If she smiles a little bit too much in an intense moment, I have to get her to get a little more serious. But she’s a great, great kid.”

Game Recap

Newport Harbor 1, Edison 0

The Newport Harbor girls’ Varsity field hockey team traveled to Edison High Thursday, defeating the Chargers 1-0. Junior Sophie Evans scored  with less than 10 minutes remaining in the game, deflecting a Madeline Storch shot off a short corner.  The Sailors gave up no shots on goal in the contest.  Newport Harbor (9-2, 2-1 in league) travels to Westminster High Monday for a 3:30 league game.

Newport Harbor’s JV field hockey team ended in a tough 0-1 loss. The JV team travels to Marina High School on Saturday to defend their three-year streak of OC JV Field Hockey Tournament Championships.

Game Recap

Newport 0, Edison 0
Newport Harbor Field Hockey’s Frosh/Soph team traveled to Edison High School yesterday and had a great game on the turf field. The game ended in a scoreless tie. The officials awarded freshman Savannah Fausto with the game ball for her excellent play. Well done girls!

Attendance

The athletic office has asked us to report every absence, even if it is excused, to the attendance office since field hockey is a class for credit.

Any player who is absent from practice or a game will be marked absent so it is important that parents call the attendance office to excuse players from their ‘class period’ for field hockey if they are going to be absent so that they are not marked truant. Players must still notify coaches of any absences or conflicts, this is just an administrative detail with the school and does not eliminate anything from our normal field hockey program and team rules.

Please email us at newportharborfieldhockey@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Update for Rain

Frosh/Soph’s game is still on as of 10:00 this morning. Edison High School has a turf field so the rain does not affect the playability. The game will be canceled if the weather is deemed dangerous (pouring rain or lightning).

JV’s practice is on as usual – 2:30 p.m. and team dinner at the Rohan home.

Varsity normal practice at 2:30 p.m. and team dinner at the Pantoskey home.

Game Recap

Newport Harbor 5, Marina 0

Newport Harbor Girls Varsity Field Hockey cruised past Marina 5-0 Tuesday at Harper Field behind goals by seniors Stephanie Storch (2) and Megan Case (2), and sophomore Jane Layton.  The Sailors controlled play while giving up only two shots on goal, both saves made by senior Sydney King. Newport Harbor (8-2, 1-1 in league) travels to Edison Thursday for a 3:15 p.m. game.

Newport Harbor’s JV team came up with a 3-0 win. Taury Hlinka scored two goals and assisted a goal to Kirsten Rohan. The result of the game came from only the first half due to rain. They travel to Edison on Thursday as well for a 4:30 p.m. game.