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.