HUNTINGTON BEACH — Playing for third place is often described as a consolation game. But there appeared to be little consolation for the Newport Harbor High field hockey team after host Edison scored two minutes into overtime to claim a 2-1 semifinal win in the Los Angeles Field Hockey Assn. Tournament of Champions.
Newport Harbor (22-3-3), which had not lost to Edison in three previous meetings this season, will meet Bonita on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Harvard-Westlake High in an attempt to earn the third-place trophy for the third straight year.
“It’s much more bitter,” Newport Harbor Coach Amanda Boyer said of the Sailors’ third consecutive semifinal loss in the equivalent of the CIF playoffs, “especially for the seniors, who experienced this last year.”
Newport Harbor fell, 1-0, at Edison in the 2014 semifinals, and the Chargers once again knocked them into the third-place game by producing a golden goal in the lone 10-minute, sudden-victory overtime. In the extra session, the teams play seven players, reduced from the standard 11 in order to encourage more scoring chances.
And Edison co-captain Delaney Hallstrom capitalized on about as dangerous a scoring chance as one could get to break a 1-1 deadlock. Hallstrom, who sparkled all game for the defending TOC champions (17-2-2), was wide open when she fielded a pass 10 yards directly in front of the goal. She quickly fired a low, driving shot into the cage to spark a celebration and return Edison to the final.
“She made the most of it and nailed the back of the cage,” Boyer said of the game-winning score, which negated a Newport Harbor comeback.
After Paige Wilson scored on an assist from Hallstrom with 23:11 left to go in the 30-minute second half, Sailors junior Mollie Crook stuffed in a rebound off a penalty corner with 18:19 remaining to pull the visitors even.
That’s how regulation ended, just as it had in two regular-season contests between the two Sunset League rivals. Newport Harbor defeated Edison, 1-0, in pool play at the Orange County invitational on Sept. 12. The first league game, at Newport, was scoreless. The second game finished deadlocked, 2-2.
“It’s always such a competitive game,” Boyer said. “Both teams bring their best to it. It was a really hard loss because I feel like our team came to the end of the season at its potential and just played an incredible game. At points, we definitely outplayed Edison. We just couldn’t find the back of the cage to secure the win.”
Edison Coach Becca Antongiorgi, whose team has won back-to-back Sunset League titles, said her players were motivated to finally top the Sailors this season.
“We had opportunities the two times we played them [in league] that both ended in ties,” Antongiorgi said. “I know [Hallstrom] had unresolved feelings about that. I knew she was going to come out ready. And heading into the overtime, she told me ‘I’m so pumped.'”
Newport Harbor benefited from consistently strong play by junior Mckenzie Porteous, while Boyer also praised the performances of senior Peyton Groves, as well as Jackie Singer and Sophie Schwarzenbach.
“We had only two seniors in the seven vs. seven [Groves and fellow tri-captain Cameron Dewan], so we should come back pretty strong [next season],” Boyer said. “I have high hopes.”
Others who represented the Sailors in the overtime period were Porteous, Singer, Katie Hendrix, Schwarzenbach and goalie Sarah Sheldon.
