Another tie for Harbor

NEWPORT BEACH — After coming up short in its attempt to steal a win Thursday, the Newport Harbor High girls’ soccer team settled for the next-best thing.

The Sailors stole a tie.

Sophomore Melissa Hancock headed in a goal in the 76th minute on sophomore Elizabeth Eddy’s cross, helping the Sailors salvage the 2-2 tie with Esperanza at Newport Harbor High in both teams’ Sunset League opener.

“We’re a team that loves to tie,” said Newport Harbor Coach Larry Draluck of his Sailors (5-3-6). “We’re not happy with ties, but at least we got a point here. We survived.”

For much of the game, the Aztecs (10-1-3), ranked No. 6 in the CIF Southern Section Division I preseason poll, appeared to be in control. They outshot the Sailors, 10-4, and had seven corner kicks to Newport Harbor’s three. These were the kind of stats that made Esperanza assistant coach Jenae Gibbens, who is also a junior on the Cal State Fullerton women’s soccer team, sigh after the match.

“It’s definitely a positive that we created the opportunities,” Gibbens said. “We just need to put them in the back of the net now.”

But Sailors senior Carly Ruiz helped Newport Harbor get on the scoreboard first. Ruiz, in her first game back from a facial fracture injury, made a lengthy run up the field in the 21st minute before passing to junior Lauren Devoy. Esperanza fouled Devoy in the box, and sophomore Gillian Hogan blasted in the penalty kick to give Newport Harbor a 1-0 lead.

It stayed that way at halftime and until the 51st minute, when Esperanza’s Lauren Kennedy scored on a bouncing ball in the box to tie the score. In the 72nd minute, Kennedy scored again after a long run and cross by the Aztecs’ Courtney Garcia, and it appeared that Esperanza had all the momentum. Both of the Aztecs goals came after stealing possession from Harbor.

“I felt, even though they outplayed us a bit, we had an opportunity to steal this game and maybe win,” Draluck said. “We fell into our old habits, we kind of got panicked and thought, ‘Uh oh, we might actually win.’ My message to the team is to manage the game not just physically, but mentally. Understand that, at 1-0, you’re winning, so take care of the ball. You don’t need to score again to get a result.”

But the Sailors would score the game’s last goal, as Eddy’s cross went to Hancock at the far post and she headed it home. It was Hancock who also scored the game-tying goal in the Sailors’ last game, a 1-1 tie with Aliso Viejo on Dec. 20.

Stephanie Castor made six saves for Harbor, which also received solid defense from seniors Crystal Mena and Katy Storch and junior Maggie Bernay.

MATT SZABO may be reached at (714) 966-4614 or by e-mail at matthew.szabo@latimes.com.