Field hockey: Sailors rock on

Steve Virgen

COSTA MESA - The Newport Harbor High field hockey team: rock stars

by day, the Sunset League’s first-place players by afternoon. It’s no

wonder Sailors Coach Sharon Wolfe called her girls’ performance against

visiting Edison, “their most inconsistent,” of the season Thursday. But

Newport did enough to win and Kaley Nix, who leads the Sailors with 13

goals this season, fired one into the cage off a rebound 7:34 into the

game, proving to be the difference in Newport’s 1-0 Sunset League victory

at Harper Community Center.

Nix also scored the lone goal to lead the Sailors to a 1-0 win over

the Chargers earlier in the season, when Newport began its current

11-game winning streak in the Sunset League.

The Sailors, also known as Chix With Stix, have been practicing for

more than a month to nail down a two-minute dance routine, which they

performed twice during the day in the school’s pep rally and homecoming

events.

After their 1-0 victory at Marina Tuesday, the Newport girls practiced

their routine. And after the teams’ practice Wednesday, they worked to

perfect the dance steps for two hours.

Then, hours before taking on Edison (5-4-3 in league), the Sailors

entertained their peers with their routine, which featured songs by Led

Zeppelin and Van Halen.

“I’m glad that’s over,” said Wolfe, who held a brief, but serious team

meeting immediately after the game. “I let them off of practice early

(Wednesday), just so they could practice (the dance routine).”

Wolfe also noted her team must improve as the season comes to an end

with crucial home games against Harvard-Westlake and Santa Ana next week.

However, she did see bright spots in Thursday’s win over the Chargers and

the optimism came from the defense which recorded its 15th shutout of the

season. Last year, the Sailors earned 17 shutouts en route to their only

Sunset League title anyone could recall. Edison had won the title two

straight years, before Newport claimed it.

Kelly Duffield, Christina Barbatti and Brianne Parmeter created

intensity for the defense along with Athena Vasquez who connected with

her stick, providing clear-outs. Goalie Amanda Wittman also contributed,

recording two saves. And Carlin Schneider displayed intensity as well.

The ball struck her below the left eye and her upper cheek immediately

swelled. She wanted to remain for the final three minutes, but Wolfe

pulled her out.