Back Bay rivals play to tie

CORONA DEL MAR — Screened by teammates and the opposition deep in the box, goalkeeper Emily Browne’s eyes stayed on the loose ball a few feet in front of her.

Time was only on Browne’s side late in the Newport Harbor High girls’ soccer match against Back Bay rival Corona del Mar.

The traffic and a sprained right thumb were not.

In the freshman’s biggest match of her life, Browne made the best save of her young career.

Browne dove to her left, bear hugging a potential game-winning goal as the Sailors ended up with a scoreless tie at CdM Tuesday.

“I had such an adrenaline rush,” Browne said. “It was really, really nerve-racking playing the older [players]. They’re like pounding [the ball] pretty hard.”

Not hard enough to gain CdM Coach Bryan Middleton’s approval.

The Sea Kings tied Newport Harbor in the Battle of the Bay match for the second straight season.

Browne finished with 11 saves and became the third keeper to blank CdM (1-1-3) in a scoreless match this season.

The Sailors (0-1-1) needed a strong performance out of Browne and the defense after last week’s season opening 4-0 loss to El Toro.

“It was a big adjustment for us,” Newport Harbor Coach Larry Draluck said. “We played El Toro and we got our clocks cleaned. We gave up what I felt were three bad goals and one other goal that was in transition.

“Team defense is the essence of a team.”

The cross-town rival schools showcased a defensive clinic on the same field.

The Sea Kings’ strength early on has been their defense and keeper Lindsey Luke.

Facing a young Newport Harbor team, Luke made four saves. Much of why the sophomore didn’t have to take on many shots can be credited to the play of defenders Lauren Smits, Scarlett Fallon, and the move of Kaylee O’Connor from striker to sweeper late in the match.

The Sailors’ developed their best scoring chances early in the second half. They both involved midfielder Elizabeth Eddy and striker Josie Jogwe.

Eddy fed a crisp pass to a running Jogwe on the left side. The freshman attacked before blasting a shot headed toward the right corner of the net.

Luke played the angle perfectly, stopping the ball with a forward dive.

One minute later, Jogwe tested Luke again. Eddy found Jogwe atop the box, where Jogwe struck the ball right at Luke.

“I was just kind of on my toes,” Luke said. “They were pressing. We just dug deep.”

The Sea Kings countered the aggressive Sailors late.

Tessa Andujar found it difficult penetrating Newport Harbor’s defense by herself. Defenders Kayla Henrie, Maggie Bernay and Gillian Hogan slowed down CdM’s best scoring threat until the loose ball situation toward the end of the match.

Andujar got control of the ball after a couple of Sailors struggled kicking it out of danger.

One second later, Browne stood in Andujar’s way of recording the game-winner.

Nothing new for Middleton. He had seen other keepers ruin CdM’s late opportunities before.

“We need to starting finishing some goals,” Middleton said.

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at david.carrillo@latimes.com.