Sticking it out

Barry Faulkner

COSTA MESA - Newport Harbor High field hockey coach Sharon Wolfe

didn’t appreciate of how many of her players spent their summer vacation.

Conflicts ranging from family vacations to work commitments to

involvement in other sports to a mere lack of interest, contributed to

several Sailors missing all or part of Wolfe’s summer program. The result

was the loss of three would-be returners, some diminished early season

playing time for others, and an extended time table for when this team is

expected to reach its peak.

“Are expectations any less?” said Wolfe, who lists senior Kim

Christensen, a second-team All-Sunset League pick last fall as one of

those not back. “I don’t think so.”

There are several returners from last year’s Sunset League Southern

Division champion, which was stunned by a first-round upset in the annual

postseason Tournament of Champions to finish 7-2-5.

And, Wolfe said, there are plenty of talented additions from last year’s

junior varsity.

“We’re not where we want to be right now, because we had so many girls

gone in the summer. In 20 years of coaching, I’ve never had so many girls

missing. But I think we’ve got a good blend and, with some girls up from

the JV, I think we’ll have some depth.”

Seniors Bitta Jansma, Susan Lear, Jennifer Porter, Paige Thompson, Katie

Welbourn, Heather Metcalf and Nicole Dore will be counted upon to lead

their younger teammates, as they did in Tuesday’s scrimmage against

Fountain Valley at the Harper Community Center.

Porter, whose six goals led the team last season, scored the first of two

second-half goals to pace a 2-0 triumph over the Barons. She pushed in

the rebound of a Welbourn shot 14 minutes into the 30-minute half.

Sophomore Allison McKenzie added the final tally two minutes later,

booming a free shot off the pads of the Fountain Valley keeper from about

15 yards in front.

Porter was an offensive catalyst all day, as was Thompson, who had five

goals last year, junior Elizabeth Evans, Mullen )five goals as a junior)

and Welbourn.

Jansma, the co-captain along with Lear, played well up front and in the

midfield. She was a first-team all-league pick as a junior.

Lear, a second-team all-league goalie last year, was hardly tested

Tuesday, as Harbor dominated all but the first 10 minutes.

Junior sweeper Shirin Oskooi anchored a back line which included

contributions from Metcalf, Welbourn and junior Sarah Green, among

others.

Kim Erickson sparkled in the midfield, as did Lisa Owad, Megan Moss and

senior Kelly Kraus, last year’s JV MVP.

Junior Amy Halvorsen also helped the hosts build momentum heading into

Thursday’s season opener at Westminster.

“I like our flexibility, with a lot of girls who can play two positions,”

Wolfe said. “We should be in the top four (11 schools play the sport,

which is not sanctioned by the CIF Southern Section), along with Edison,

Huntington Beach and Marina.

“Our JV girls got some good experience last year (including winning the

Orange County Invitational), so it’ll just be a matter of them adjusting

to their new teammates and not being intimidated. I don’t see our program

dipping that much.”

Wolfe, in her fifth year with the program, said the future also looks

bright with the continued presence of a third team.

“This is our fourth year with a JV program and, last year, we were the

only school with a third team (the JV II).”