Sailors pull off twin killing

COSTA MESA — The ice ran low during the Newport Harbor High field hockey game. Players from Louisville of Woodland Hills used most of the ice to fill bags for injuries to the face, ankle and knee.

The bags felt frigid to a couple of the injured players on the sideline as the game went on Monday.

The Royals’ offense looked just as cold.

Newport Harbor froze visiting Louisville, practically playing the entire 60-minute game on the Royals’ end at Harper Elementary. The Sailors won, 2-0, and advanced out of the opening round of the Los Angeles Field Hockey Assn. Tournament of Champions.

Newport Harbor (13-2-1) is looking to defend its title in the eight-team tournament. With nine starters back off last year’s team, the Sailors are more than capable.

Two of those players are fraternal twins, Claire and Kimmy Ramser. Each scored goals, finding the back of the net late in each half, Claire’s in the 29th minute and Kimmy’s in the 57th.

Next for the Sailors is a semifinal road game at Glendora on Wednesday. Glendora defeated Marina, 5-2, in its opening-round game Monday. The key to Newport Harbor’s success is simple to Kimmy.

“We just have to keep playing Newport ball,” she said.

The Sailors fought throughout the game, battling for every ball and attacking the opposition at will.

The scoring chances belonged to Newport Harbor, as it outshot the Royals, 20-1. Goalie Sydney King made one save in the shutout.

The rest of the game, King and defenders Madeline Storch, Lauren Rojas and Zoie Wolfe stood and watched Newport Harbor move the ball into Louisville’s circle.

The home crowd grew excited with each scoring opportunity. Other times, it was plain frustrating to Newport Harbor Coach Devon Kelly.

“I was worried because we were not capitalizing and we had seven offensive corners,” Kelly said.

Kelly breathed a sigh of relief at halftime. Claire played a big role in settling down her coach.

In the 29th minute, Claire scored on a Claire Layton assist. Louisville goalie Tiffany Nali stood no chance with Claire Ramser steps away as Newport Harbor went ahead, 1-0.

The Royals tried to regroup during the break. Despite being down, the game wasn’t as ugly for Louisville as the one earlier this season against Newport Harbor. The Sailors won, 6-0, at Moorpark College.

Both sides agreed the field at Harper Elementary isn’t as nice as the turf surface at the junior college. The uneven grass slowed the tempo down at times Monday.

Looking for any life offensively, the Royals got one. One of their top players returned. Midfielder McKenna Green missed most of the first half after falling and injuring her left ankle three minutes into the game.

After sitting and holding a bag of ice on her ankle for one-half hour, Green took the field in the second half. Eight minutes into the half, Green hit the grass hard again.

Green ran into the end of Claire Ramser’s stick after she struck the ball. The right side of Green’s face took the brunt of Claire Ramser’s follow-through shot. Play was stopped as Green walked off hurt.

Six minutes later, another Louisville player exited the game because of an injured knee. Green handed Francesca Calvo her bag of ice.

The Sailors continued the pressure in the offensive zone.

Three minutes before time expired, Lauren Grupe assisted on a goal as Kimmy tapped it in.

“I was really happy to get the second goal,” Kelly said of getting some offensive momentum before playing Glendora. “I think we have a very good shot [at defending the title].”