Boys soccer: Tars tie Woodbridge

Barry Faulkner

IRVINE - Unranked, unheralded but steadfastly unruffled, the

Newport Harbor High boys soccer team ventured into the yard of a Sea View

League big dog Friday and came away with a sizable bone.

Sophomore Tyson Wahl struck the telling blow with an artful goal in the

56th minute, as the Sailors earned a 1-1 tie against league-leading

Woodbridge.

The deadlock, Harbor’s second league standoff against the Warriors

(12-3-6, 3-0-3 and a season-long member of the Orange County Top 10)

wrapped up a guaranteed CIF playoff berth for the Tars (6-7-5, 2-1-4),

who also maintain slim league title hopes.

“Mathematically, we’re still shooting for a league championship,” Newport

Coach Matt West said.

The Sailors, with eight points in the standings (two for a win, one for a

tie), close out the league campaign Friday, hosting Aliso Niguel. Harbor

is tied with Irvine, idle Friday, and one point behind Woodbridge. Both

Irvine and Woodbridge play two league games next week, meeting one

another Friday.

Newport’s ability to remain in contention is all the more remarkable,

considering it lost senior captains Ryan Hernandez (broken right tibia)

and Kevin Yoches (torn ankle ligament) to injuries in Wednesday’s 2-0

setback against Laguna Hills.

“Our effort today was sensational, especially in light of our recent

injuries,” West said. “The team really looks to (Hernandez) as a

tremendous leader, so the kids really took his injury hard. He was at

home today, but we gave him a call at halftime to keep him updated.”

Yoches may return as soon as Friday, but the Sailors did well with what

they had against the Warriors.

“Newport definitely played hard today,” Woodbridge Coach Jon Szcuka said.

“Their work rate really worked out for them in the end.”

Woodbridge worked for its 1-0 halftime lead, supplied by senior Ryan

Orosz in the 33rd minute. The goal was set up by a Pieter Berger cross,

which averted a sliding Harbor keeper in front. Orosz, with a virtual

empty net, took time to settle, then send it in.

Woodbridge posted five quality scoring chances in the first half, to

Harbor’s four, and appeared to have the more dangerous offense.

But Harbor, which has drawn praise from West all season for its work

ethic, refused to be bested.

“As a unit, this group has worked so hard all year long, it’s hard to put

into words the satisfaction of going to the playoffs,” West said. “The

Sea View League is full of big dogs -- championship-caliber teams -- and

to do what we’ve done against them says a lot about our kids.”

Trey Meek, Kevin Campos, Hugo Cortez and Riley Madigan all created

scoring chances for the visitors, before Wahl produced their first and

only finish.

The goal occurred after Madigan was fouled just outside the 18-yard box,

setting up a direct free kick.

With the ball 19 yards out on the right wing, Wahl, Meek and Victor

Castillo huddled to discuss a set play.

“I let the senior (Castillo) decide which play we run and I guess he made

the right choice,” West said.

The play began with Meek approaching the ball from the left, but leaving

it behind for the left-footed Wahl, coming behind him from the right.

Wahl hooked the shot around a four-man Woodbridge wall and just inside

the left post, as Warrior keeper Jason Del Valle rushed, in vain, to

cover the tight opening.

“The play we run depends on what side the ball is on,” Meek said. “With

the ball on the right, Tyson takes the shot, because he’s left-footed.”

West termed the tally a “first-class” goal and Szcuka called it “an

awesome shot.”

Duke Burchell had five saves for the Sailors, who also received strong

defensive play from Juan Gonzalez and Scott Perkins.