NEWPORT BEACH — Senior Jill Messersmith scored the game-winning goal with about 14 minutes left to lead the Newport Harbor High field hockey team to a 2-1 Sunset League win over rival Huntington Beach Tuesday at Davidson Field.

It was the Oilers’ first loss in league play.

Sophie Templin provided the assist on Messersmith’s goal.

Newport Harbor (13-4-3, 5-3-1 in league) scored first, 20 minutes into the game, when Taury Hlinka shot toward the cage and Jordan Blanchfield followed it and smacked it in for the 1-0 lead.

Huntington Beach tied it up with about 21 minutes left.

“This is [the Sailors] best played game of the season,” Newport Harbor Coach Amanda Boyer said. “I’m so proud of the way they played together as a team and excuted all the things we’ve been working on this season.”

Boyer said the win didn’t matter in the league standings, as the Oliers remain in first and the Sailors in third, but the victory has given Newport Harbor confidence with the Los Angeles Field Hockey Assn. Tournament of Champions starting on Monday.

The Sailors, who close out the regular season at Fountain Valley on Thursday, are seeking their fifth straight TOC title.

Newport Harbor is the only team to have scored on the Oilers this season, Boyer said. Jane Layton had a standout game and also helped lead the Sailors to the win, Boyer said.

Playing on the grass at Davidson Field also helped, as opposed to playing on the artificial turf at Huntington Beach, where the Sailors lost, 3-1, Oct. 24.

“It was definitely home-field advantage because [the Oilers] d0 so well on turf,” Boyer said.

Newport Harbor JV Field Hockey beat the Oilers 1-0 with the only goal by Alexa Luckow. Coach Kerrie Gates noted the standout play by goalkeeper Erika Nilsson.