Game Recap

The Daily Pilot Sports Editor, Steve Virgen, covered the Varsity game yesterday. Check it out below or click here. Thanks Steve!

COSTA MESA — Two rounds are scheduled, but four are expected, when it comes to the field hockey slugfest that is Newport Harbor High vs. Huntington Beach.

Round one went to the Oilers in an intense Sunset League opener, that featured a battle of unbeatens, at Harper Community School Tuesday afternoon.

The teams traded blows throughout, but Huntington Beach was left standing, and celebrating, with a 1-0 victory.

Now Newport Harbor will try to set itself up to win when there’s even more on the line. The teams meet again Oct. 14, when the defending league champion plays host to the Sailors.

There’s a potential meeting this weekend in the Orange County tournament at Marina High, as last year Huntington Beach beat Newport in the tourney final.

And, of course there’s always the chance the teams can meet in the Tournament of Champions title game, just as they have the past two seasons.

Both years, Newport Harbor was the champ, both times in dramatic fashion. The Sailors won after a penalty-stroke shootout in 2008 and last year it was a 1-0 victory that gave Newport its second straight TOC title.

Last year, the teams each won twice in the four matches.

A three-peat has been the goal for the Sailors this year, but the Oilers showed they want it just as bad.

While Newport Harbor (5-1, 0-1 in league) squandered scoring chances, Huntington Beach (6-0, 1-0) made the most of one with 5 minutes, 15 seconds remaining.

“It’s Newport Harbor, our biggest rival, so this is awesome,” Berns said. “This is probably the biggest game of the season. All of us wear our [game] skirts to school. We talked to each other before the match saying what we needed to do. We were all really intense.”

Amanda Boyer, Newport Harbor’s first-year coach who’s in her fourth year with the program and was a former player, knows all too well of the Sailors-Oilers rivalry in field hockey.

She expected a great game would be played in the league opener.

“I would describe it as two very skilled teams that are both really wanting to win,” Boyer said. “There’s a lot of history there. Every game is very fun, but very intense, with both teams playing really well.”

Boyer believed her team played its best game of the season. She told her players to build off the performance even though it was a loss.

“I told them to keep their heads high, ‘don’t you dare put your heads down,’ ” she said.

Huntington Beach Coach Cathy Van Doornum was happy her team hung with the Sailors and hung around to keep the game close.

She was excited with her defense. The Oilers gained a great deal of confidence, especially sophomore goalie Brittney Cristini, who had the shutout.

Senior Mary Yeager and junior Allie Pantoskey played well on offense, leading several Newport Harbor scoring chances. Yeager had much on her mind. Her older sister, Katie, a Newport Harbor alumni, was delivering a baby at Hoag Hospital. Yeager left immediately after the game.

The Newport girls tried to give a clever birthday gift with a victory. Junior Sophie Evans and senior Natalie Swift were leaders on defense.

They’ll try to get the Oilers back if they meet again this weekend.

“I think this will motivate us a lot more for the next time,” said senior Beth Barnard. “Since it was them we lost to this will stick in our minds.”

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After Varsity’s tough loss, Newport Harbor’s Junior Varsity team came up with a big win with Caitlin Shedd scoring the only goal in the 1-0 victory. Great job girls!

The Stix Weekly

PROGRAM WIDE
– The Parent Kick Off Party was a blast! Thanks to the Yeagers for hosting!

VARSITY
Monday – Practice at 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. and Team Dinner at the Dinatale Home.
Tuesday – First League Game! Home Game vs. Huntington Beach. Be at the field at 2:10 p.m.
Wednesday – Practice at 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. and cheer on F/S vs. Harvard Westlake at 4:30 p.m.
Thursday – Practice at 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Friday – Practice at 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Saturday – OC Field Hockey Tournament at Marina High School. First game is at 8 a.m. vs. Bonita. Be at the field at 7 a.m. Bring both uniforms, water, and snacks for the day.

JUNIOR VARSITY
Monday – Practice at 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. and Team Dinner at the Nulty Home.
Tuesday – First League Game! Home Game vs. Huntington Beach. Be at the field at 3:15 p.m.
Wednesday – Practice at 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. and cheer on F/S vs. Harvard Westlake at 4:30 p.m.
Thursday – Practice at 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Friday – Practice at 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Saturday – OC Field Hockey Tournament (Varsity Bracket) at Marina High School. First game is at 8 a.m. vs. Westminster. Be at the field at 7 a.m. Bring both uniforms, water, and snacks for the day.

FROSH/SOPH
Monday – Practice at 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday – Practice at 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday – Home game vs. Harvard Westlake at 4:30 p.m., be at the field at 3:20 p.m.
Thursday – Practice at 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. & Team Dinner at the Flanagan Home.
Friday – Practice at 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Saturday – Harbor Heritage Run! Dress up, run the 5k as a team, and represent field hockey!

Game Recap

Newport Harbor 4, Glendora 0
Newport Harbor Girls Varsity Field Hockey continued its winning ways Tuesday, defeating the previously unbeaten Glendora Tartans 4-0 at home.  The Sailors’ strong defense held Glendora to one shot on goal while the Sailors managed eight shots of their own. Stephanie Storch had two goals for the Sailors, including one on a free stroke (penalty shot), and Megan Case scored off an assist from Mary Yeager to finish the first half scoring.  Allie Pantoskey scored midway through the second half redirecting a ball that rebounded off the Tartan goalie.
The Sailors (5-0) begin league action next Tuesday at home against Huntington Beach at 3:15 p.m. at Harper School.  Huntington Beach is the defending Sunset League champion, but has lost to Newport Harbor in the Tournament of Champions finals each of the last two years.
Newport Harbor’s Junior Varsity team came out with another win as well against the Tartans with a 1-0 victory. Junior Annie Pyle scored with an assist from Kirsten Rohan.

Club Makeup Tryouts

If you registered to tryout for the Mulligan Club Team to go to Festival, the makeup tryouts will be held on this Friday immediately following practice at 4:30 p.m. at Harper.

If you are still interested in playing club field hockey, but did not register for these tryouts, you have not missed your chance. The above tryouts are specifically for the team traveling to National Festival over Thanksgiving weekend. For more information on playing club, contact Judy either at practice or by email at info@mulliganfieldhockey.com.

Parents: RSVP Please

The Parent Kick Off Party is approaching rapidly! An evite was sent out to your email one week ago (September 14). Please RSVP so that we can get a head count for planning purposes. The $20 per person donation will be collected at the door. We hope to see you there, it will be a fun night!

If you did not receive the evite, please email Barb Yeager at socr2xs@sbcglobal.net.

Flickr Photos

Did you know that we have a place where photos are uploaded to on a regular basis? Make sure to check in with our FlickR account to see the most recent photos from Newport Harbor Field Hockey. There is always a link like this on the right side of our website that will take you to the ‘photostream’ where you can view and download photos.

If you would like to contribute any photos of your own, email newportharborfieldhockey@gmail.com and we’ll explain how. Enjoy!

Some recently added images from Varsity photographer Marlon Liotta:

and JV Photographer, Dan Johnson: