Eagles squeak by sore Sailors
Bryce Alderton
The result might have repeated itself, but Newport Harbor High girls
soccer coach Brandie Hayungs saw a step toward improvement Thursday
afternoon with a team already facing injuries to key players.
Sophomores Jacquelyn Johnston and Katie Smokowski teamed up for
the game’s only goal in the 56th minute to give visiting Santa
Margarita a 1-0 nonleague victory over the Sailors (0-2). Johnston
sent a cross that Smokowski got a foot on just enough as she was
sliding and sent the ball off the right post, then trickled to the
left side of the net for the goal.
The Eagles outshot the Sailors, 13-1, but the Newport defense made
it as difficult as possible to fire a shot. Junior goalkeeper Kara
DeMille made seven saves and received defensive and midfield support
from sophomore Stephanie Lambrakis along with juniors Reese Simmons
and Tayler Giacomaro, a first-team All-Sea View League returner.
“I wanted to see improvement [Thursday] and I think the result
speaks for itself,” said Hayungs, in her first year as head coach.
Newport lost to Edison, 4-0, Tuesday, but made it difficult for
Santa Margarita, winners of five CIF titles in the past seven years.
“I’m waiting for us to get healthy,” Hayungs said.
The Sailors were without two starters against the Eagles (1-0).
Junior defender Erin Hardy, a second-team all-league selection a year
ago, sat out with a sprained ankle while sophomore Amy Klippert might
miss the entire season after breaking her shin in a soccer tournament
last weekend. Hayungs said Klippert was released from the hospital
Tuesday, but was unsure if the injury would require surgery.
Junior forward Jenny Taylor, a member of the Newport Harbor field
hockey team, along with Simmons, that claimed the Los Angeles Field
Hockey Association Tournament of Champions title last month, played
just half the game against Santa Margarita as she eases into soccer
after breaking both ankles the past year-and-a-half. Taylor was also
battling a chest cold.
The Eagles were also short-handed with three of their top players
-- Kiara Bosio, Amy Rodriguez and goalkeeper Kori Lu -- competing in
a high school showcase game at this weekend’s NCAA Division I women’s
soccer championship in Cary, N.C.
“We dodged a few bullets,” Santa Margarita Coach Chuck Morales
said. “Six of Newport’s players could play anywhere. The challenge
was getting [Shannon Arnold] under control, especially the last 10
minutes of the first half.”
Arnold, a junior varsity call-up, along with senior Barbara
Julian, led Newport’s front-line attack. Both put pressure on Santa
Margarita goalkeeper late in the first half.
Arnold drew a corner and Julian fired a shot from 20 yards on a
pass from sophomore Heather Stevenson with less than a minute left in
the first half, but Santa Margarita goalkeeper Nicole Lokietz knocked
the ball down with two hands for her one save. Newport dealt a final
flurry in the final two minutes, getting a steal at midfield from
senior Jenelle Arnold along with senior Hayley Miller knocking the
ball away from an opponent. Lambrakis also tracked balls along the
sidelines, but the Sailors couldn’t get that one opening for a clean
shot on goal.
“[Arnold] has strength and speed,” Hayungs said. “I was trying to
get the players to be more vocal, show some guidance and run to
support each other. We need more people like Stephanie Lambrakis to
take initiative and want the ball.”
Newport returns to action against host El Toro Tuesday.
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