Newport runs over Aztecs, 20-7

Steve Virgen

After a 12-4 win over Marina Saturday, believe it or not, there

was still room for improvement for the Newport Harbor High girls

water polo team. And, now even after a 20-7 nonleague victory over

visiting Esperanza Tuesday, there’s sure to be even more

improvements.

Such is the life of the Sailors and their challenging quest to

repeat as Sea View League champions.

“Our defense was probably our worst part,” Newport Coach Bill

Barnett said of the victory. “I thought there was a lot of mistakes

we made (against Marina). But we cut down on those (Tuesday). Our

ball handling was a lot better.”

In addition to Newport’s long term goal of winning the Sea View

League title, the Sailors also have a simple, yet complex achievement

to reach in each game in the early season.

“We’re just trying to play good, solid ball,” Barnett said. “All

the girls played really well (Tuesday).”

Barnett’s words were not only evident in the pool, but also in the

box score, as 11 of Newport’s 14 field players tallied goals. Newport

senior Annie Wight led the way with four goals, senior Jenna Murphy

scored three, while seniors Paige Lansing and Tiffany Manderino,

along with junior Jessica Ball and sophomore Anne Belden added two

goals each. The senior-heavy Sailors also received single goals from

seniors Peggy Beebe, Alex Andersen and KT Adnoff, as well as juniors

Katie Erickson and Carolyn Conway. Newport junior goalie Terin Cottam

recorded nine saves.

The Sailors (2-0) went on a 4-0 run in the final 2:13 of the first

quarter to break open the game and lead, 7-2. In that span, Newport

displayed dominance and grabbed complete control of the game, mainly

with an effective counterattack.

After Lansing recorded one of her three first-half steals, she

started the counterattack that ended with Murphy, who is bound for

UCLA, finishing at the other end to begin Newport’s 4-0 spurt. Then,

35 seconds later, the Sailors struck again off the counterattack,

this time after a steal by Ball. Newport quickly came back the other

way, as Murphy fed Lansing, who scored the goal. Forty seconds later,

Wight came away with a steal and Belden later scored on the

breakaway.

Lansing capped the run, after finishing the pass from Wight, who

took advantage of the steal by Belden.

The Sailors built a 12-5 halftime lead by scoring two goals off

steals, two more on power-play opportunities and once on a regular

set play in which Conway scored from two meters to begin the

five-goal second quarter.

Barnett was a bit bothered by his defense, yet it held Esperanza

(3-3) scoreless in the third quarter. The Aztecs scored their first

three goals on what appeared to be desperation shots, none coming

within eight meters of Newport’s cage. Esperanza also scored twice on

power-play chances and once on a four-meter penalty shot.

In frosh-soph play, Newport defeated Esperanza, 13-0, as Leah

Robertson led the Sailors with four goals.

Nonleague

Newport Harbor 20, Esperanza 7

Score by Quarters

Esperanza 2 3 0

2 -- 7

Newport 7 5 3

5 -- 20

Esperanza -- Doty 2, Tornio 2, Chu 1, Knight 1, Murata

1. Saves -- Chinichian 3, Stiemann 4.

Newport -- Wight 4, Murphy 3, Lansing 2, Belden 2, Ball

2, Manderino 2, Conway 1, Beebe 1, Andersen 1, Erickson 1, Adnoff 1.

Saves -- Cottam 9,