Grupe learns quickly

It is indeed ironic that Lauren Grupe completely aced a crash course in field hockey that allowed her to go from a first-year varsity player to the Most Valuable Player in the high school sport’s ultimate event.

That’s because the Newport Harbor High senior’s biggest asset is her ability to avoid contact with defenders.

“She has college level moves,” Sailors Coach Devon Kelly said of the 5-foot center midfielder, who had never picked up a hockey stick until two years ago. “She’s a tenacious little athlete with skill ... a tremendous talent.”

That talent may never have been unveiled had Grupe, who began playing lacrosse as a sophomore after devoting her early high school experience to the dance team, not been convinced by some friends to become one of the self-proclaimed “chicks with sticks.”

Grupe, who was a standout on the junior varsity in 2008, said she was immediately consumed by the sport. She quickly initiated a program of three or four individual workouts per week to help decrease the skill gap between herself and those who had been playing since at least their freshman year.

“I dedicated a lot of my time and I put in a lot of hard work,” Grupe said. “I wanted to live up to all my other teammates, so I worked really hard to get where I am.”

Her teammates have never been disappointed.

Grupe’s ability to control play and contribute on offense and defense helped the Sailors claim their second straight Los Angeles Field Hockey Assn. Tournament of Champions title Nov. 5. It’s the ultimate prize in a sport not overseen by the CIF Southern Section and Grupe’s play in the three-game event resulted in MVP honors. She is also the Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week.

She scored the only goal in a 1-0 title-game triumph over Huntington Beach, avenging the only two losses of the season for the Sailors (15-2-1).

She had an assist in a 2-0 semifinal win at Glendora Nov. 4 and also contributed an assist in a 2-0 first-round home triumph over Louisville of Woodland Hills.

And while Grupe has emerged from one year of junior varsity success to become a leader for the Sailors’ varsity, her postseason prominence was not inconsistent with her play all season, Kelly said.

“She has been completely consistent every minute of every game,” said Kelly, who in nine seasons with the program, the last five as the varsity coach, has never seen anyone pick up the game as quickly. “To see where she is after playing varsity for only one year is kind of spectacular,” Kelly said. “And she has only been playing the sport for two years.”

Grupe would like to play at least four more years in college and, hoping to impress college recruiters, she continues to hone her talents in preparation for a showcase club tournament Nov. 26-28 in Indio.

But refining her skills is, by now, old hat.

“I go to a local field and practice dribbling, hits and I do strengthening drills for my wrists and hands,” she said. “Sometimes, a couple teammates would come along, but most of the time, I was by myself.”

Grupe said her background in youth soccer contributed to the feel she has for field hockey, while Kelly said her naturally high energy level helps wear opponents down.

“She can run all day long,” Kelly said. “She never runs out of legs.”

Grupe’s goal against Huntington gave the Tars a leg up on another title. And the move that set up the winning shot was one Grupe had practiced alone many times.

“I got the ball from the top of the circle and a Huntington Beach girl was flying at me with her stick,” Grupe said. “I used a pull move [directing the ball to the side to protect it from the defender(s)], and then took it in for the shot.”

Grupe is confident she will get her shot at collegiate field hockey, though she is among those who marvel at her progress in the sport.

“I definitely have been surprised with how quickly I caught on and was able to rise to the occasion,” she said. “It’s beyond me. I don’t understand it. It’s weird, but it’s cool.”