Daily Pilot High School Athlete of the Week

The pregame routine is now ritual for Newport Harbor High senior Krissy Burger. After she has done all she can to forget everything but the job ahead, Coach Bill Barnett gets in her ear, giving her the same singular bit of wisdom to remember.

One last reminder for the Sailors’ last line of defense.

“He tells me, ‘Burger, you know if they don’t score, we win,’ ” said the girls’ water polo goalie, who noted that she finds comfort and confidence in her coach’s comment.

“It’s mostly to let her know the team depends on her,” said Barnett, who along with Burger’s teammates, has come to rely upon the talented second-year starter.

With Burger playing the best water polo of her career, Newport Harbor enters today’s nonleague contest against visiting Palos Verdes with a 13-2 record, 2-0 in the Sunset League, and the No. 2 ranking in CIF Southern Section Division I.

Never was Burger’s prowess been on display more than last weekend’s Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions, in which she led the Tars to a runner-up finish. She had a career-high 13 saves in the title game, a 6-5 loss to top-ranked Dos Pueblos, despite the absence of senior scoring leader Kaleigh Gilchrist, who left to compete in the International Surfing Assn. World Junior Championships in New Zealand.

Those 13 saves included stopping a five-meter penalty shot.

“She has really been hot lately,” Barnett said of Burger, who is finally at home in the glaring spotlight her position commands.

“I think it’s maturity and confidence,” said Barnett, who provided additional praise for the 5-foot-9 Division I college prospect.

“She’s a good athlete who works really hard,” said Barnett, who believes Burger’s length is another asset.

Burger said she is physically stronger than last season, when she helped Newport Harbor reach the CIF Division I semifinals.

But in addition to her physical improvement, she believes she is better mentally, as well.

“I get in the zone and I just focus on the ball,” said Burger, who also contributed to lopsided tournament wins over Riverside Poly, 12-5, Palos Verdes, 14-6, and The Bishop’s, 18-4.

Burger’s strong play was also a critical factor in a 9-3 league win over Edison on Jan. 13 that helped solidify the Sailors’ place atop the league standings.

“Sometimes, after my game, I’ve been so focused on the game that I don’t really remember much from that game.”

Burger’s play has been memorable, and her contributions don’t end with defense.

“I can throw the ball very well,” the Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week said. “I like to make long passes and try to recognize when one of our players is open [on the counterattack]. I also like to steal the ball.”

Burger’s quest for excellence includes work with private goalkeeper coach Merill Moses, a member of the U.S. national team.

“He teaches me and he encourages me,” Burger said of Moses, who has added to Burger’s knowledge of the proper positioning to help cut down shooting angles.

It is encouragement and confidence provided by Moses, Barnett, and her teammates, that has helped Burger become a prominent contributor.

“I think last year, I was kind of in shock [about starting],” she said. “I was like, Oh my gosh, I’m actually here and this is actually happening. Until last year, I had never played in a CIF game. I had only watched them from the stands.”

Burger stands an excellent chance of landing a scholarship, Barnett said. She has taken recruiting visits to Brown, Loyola Marymount and San Diego State and lists LMU, USC and UC Davis among her top choices.

Yet while she is clearly relied upon, she also relies on the team in front of her.

“I think we have the No. 1 defense around,” Burger said. “I’m basically just there when they need help.”

Burger seems to be there for the Sailors, thanks to a little pregame help from Barnett.