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.”
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