Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week: Amy Burlingham - Greased Lightning

Tony Altobelli

Amazing what a year of experience will do to a person’s attitude on

the soccer field.

For Newport Harbor High girls soccer standout Amy Burlingham, she went

from a starry-eyed freshman trying not to make mistakes on the varsity

team, to a bullet-like sophomore, forcing the mistakes upon the

opposition.

“I’m trying a new style; a more direct approach,” Burlingham said.

“Last year, I didn’t know what to expect and that may have changed my

mentality and my approach. This year, I’m much more relaxed and good

things are happening.”

Good thing for not only Burlingham, but the entire Sailors’ program.

Newport, winners of three contests all of last year, is already 4-1-1,

thanks in large part to the offensive leadership of Burlingham.

“Since last year, she’s been involved a lot with her SoCal Blues Club

team, as well as the Olympic Development Program,” Newport Coach Jason

Sorrell said. “Last year, she may have doubted her ability a little bit,

but not this year.”

In those six games, the Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week has scored six

goals, already lapping last year’s total of three. In fact against

Northwood on Dec. 5, Burlingham scored all three goals in Newport’s 3-0

win.

The key to her success: Speed, speed and more speed.

“A bunch of my goals have come on breakaways,” Burlingham said. “Once

I get to the ball I just try to turn my brain off and finish the play

strong.”

Sorrell believes it is that speed that will make Burlingham one of

Newport top players in school history. “I believe she’s already one now,”

Sorrell said. “She’s improved so much over this past year and she’s only

going to get better and better her next two seasons.”

Burlingham plays other sports that help make her soccer game even

better. Already with varsity letters in track and field and girls

volleyball, Burlingham uses those same muscles in soccer and the numbers

speak for themselves.

Making the adjustment from club soccer to high school action came

easier to Burlingham with that extra year of varsity experience under her

belt.

“Club soccer is structured heavily on the pace of the ball, while the

high school game is more direct,” Burlingham said. “I’m learning to take

more control of each situation and react to them better.”

Sorrell, although impressed with her raw talent, still would like to

see Burlingham become a more all-around player.

“She’s great when she’s got the ball, but it’s the work without the

ball that I’d like to see her get better at,” Sorrell said. “The little

grind-it-out things that forwards sometimes don’t like to do, I’d like to

see her do more of.”

Out of her many sports, Burlingham is the biggest fan of soccer. “It

allows you to be more creative,” she said. “It frees you up and forces

you to react to every situation a little different each time.”

Despite only being a sophomore, Burlingham is a field leader for the

Sailors, according to Sorrell.

“I even wanted her to take more of a leadership role last year, which

is hard for a freshman to do,” Sorrell said. “This year, I’ve got a

couple of sophomores who are helping our less experienced players out

there and Amy is definitely one of those leaders.”

If the Sailors are hoping Burlingham leads the team right to the CIF

Southern Section playoffs, they had better strap on their seat belts

because it’ll be a fast ride, regardless.