Sailors down, but alive for playoffs

HUNTINGTON BEACH — Ordered to sit in a nearby baseball dugout after a disappointing match, the Newport Harbor High boys’ soccer team settled in.

Not much to do for close to a half an hour, but watch Coach Ryan Hernandez walk around the mound with his head down.

The Sailors hung their heads, too, with good reason. They allowed host Marina to come back from a two-goal deficit and win, 4-2, in a Sunset League match Wednesday.

It looked like losing the last regular-season match would cost the Sailors a possible postseason berth. All they were required to do to secure their first playoff spot in three years was win, or have Edison lose to Fountain Valley, or have that Wednesday league match end in a tie.

It seemed unlikely as Edison was the more superior side, but Newport Harbor waited for the result. Hernandez phoned his former assistant, Matt Tutton, who was at the Edison-Fountain Valley match.

No final to report. Hernandez continued to call Tutton.

“I’ve never waited for something for so long. Every minute seemed like an hour,” Hernandez said. “I was so superstitious. I was thinking, ‘Should I call when it’s an odd [minute]. I was going crazy. I just told the guys to learn from this.”

What the Sailors learned after waiting in the dugout was that their season wasn’t over.

As soon as Hernandez found out that the double overtime match between Edison and Fountain Valley ended in a tie, he fell on his back near the mound. He looked relieved that Newport Harbor clinched third place in league, ahead of Edison.

“We’re in! Yeah!” yelled Hernandez, with his players celebrating around him. “It’s karma. We deserve this!”

The Sailors’ play in the first half proved that they were on their way to qualifying for the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs.

Up 2-0 against the struggling Vikings (6-11-2, 3-6-1 in league), Newport Harbor (10-8-4, 4-4-2) easily controlled the match at midfield. The two players contributing goals were midfielders Garrett Heiser and Ulises Vega.

But the Vikings seized the spoiler’s role.

Marina scored on striker Kory Burke’s goal finding the left side of the back of the net, cutting the deficit, 2-1, in the 46th minute.Then, the Vikings scored twice in the next 14 minutes, both goals coming after direct free kicks.

The game-winner came off of striker Craig Jarvis’ diving header deep in the box.

But Marina almost made sure Newport Harbor wouldn’t get into the playoffs either.

The Sailors stalled offensively — even when they overcrowded the offensive side late with everyone except a defender and keeper.

It backfired. Marina’s Ben Freiborg stole the ball near midfield and dribbled all the way in for a goal that put Newport Harbor away with two minutes left.

The Sailors looked like they were done for good. Having to wait around in a dugout for the Edison-Fountain Valley update only made things harder.

“Most anticipating feeling in my life. [I’ve] never been more anxious, or kind of scared,” Newport Harbor striker Will Reichenstein said. “All I could do is sit there and pray.”

Reichenstein’s prayer was answered when Hernandez answered his cell phone and learned of Newport Harbor’s fate. He couldn’t stand to tell his team.