Down, dirty draw

Bryce Alderton

The score was 0-0 and the weather was wintry, but emotions ran at

high temperatures in the suddenly burgeoning girls soccer rivalry

between Newport Harbor and Irvine high schools this season, adding

its latest chapter Tuesday.

The Sailors (2-15-3, 1-5-2 in the Sea View League) and Vaqueros

(8-6-4, 3-2-3) bumped each other, collided frequently and slipped

across Davidson Field in a league game punctuated by physicality, and

often, frustration.

Both coaches criticized the referees for “letting the game become

too aggressive.”

“There were calls in favor of us that we shouldn’t have got and,

30 seconds later, it would be reversed and Irvine would get the ball

when they shouldn’t have,” said Newport Coach Brandie Hayungs. “The

girls get frustrated both ways and become more aggressive than if

[the officials] would make the calls early. We trust them to make the

calls.”

Irvine Coach Gwen Conine said the officials failed to control the

game and thought Newport played a bit too physical as a result.

“I had two girls get yellow cards who never get yellow cards,”

Conine said. “My girls played a clean game despite the pressure on

them.”

Hayungs said the heightened emotions between the two teams could

have spilled over from an earlier meeting this season [a 1-0

Vaqueros’ win] when an Irvine player received two yellow cards and

was ejected.

“I contacted [Conine] and she spoke with the girls,” Hayungs said.

“We are not there to go after anybody. We play to put goals in the

net.”

Newport outshot the Vaqueros, 12-4, getting two golden scoring

chances in each half.

Junior Tayler Giacomaro’s shot from just outside the 18-yard box

seven minutes into the first half hit the crossbar and deflected to

senior forward Barbara Julian, who sent the ball sailing over the

net.

Sophomore Krystal Wright was on the receiving end of a cross from

sophomore Jackie Taylor in the 69th minute, but again the shot flew

over the goal.

Nearly a minute later, Taylor dribbled into the 18-yard box and

sent a shot toward the far post that Irvine goalkeeper Brittany Goetz

dove to knock down and quickly pounced on the ball before Newport

junior Kiley Hall could get a foot on it.

A brisk wind blowing from east to west gave each team a half of

going with the gusts.

Defenders Reese Simmons, Erin Hardy and Stephanie Lambrakis

neutralized Irvine forwards from getting clear shots on goalkeeper

Kara DeMille, who made two saves, including one on a header following

an Irvine corner kick with five minutes remaining.

Failure to put the ball in the net has plagued Newport all season,

but Hayungs took satisfaction in playing spoiler against Irvine,

which is battling for one of the league’s three guaranteed CIF

playoff berths.

“That has been the story of our season. We have finished many

games, 2-1, 1-0,” Hayungs said. “After the last meeting [against

Irvine] we were so disappointed. Our girls were up for this game.”