High School Roundup: Sailors stun Oilers
NEWPORT BEACH — Senior Jill Messersmith scored the game-winning goal with about 14 minutes left to lead the Newport Harbor High field hockey team to a 2-1 Sunset League win over rival Huntington Beach Tuesday at Davidson Field.
It was the Oilers’ first loss in league play.
Sophie Templin provided the assist on Messersmith’s goal.
Newport Harbor (13-4-3, 5-3-1 in league) scored first, 20 minutes into the game, when Taury Hlinka shot toward the cage and Jordan Blanchfield followed it and smacked it in for the 1-0 lead.
Huntington Beach tied it up with about 21 minutes left.
“This is [the Sailors] best played game of the season,” Newport Harbor Coach Amanda Boyer said. “I’m so proud of the way they played together as a team and excuted all the things we’ve been working on this season.”
Boyer said the win didn’t matter in the league standings, as the Oliers remain in first and the Sailors in third, but the victory has given Newport Harbor confidence with the Los Angeles Field Hockey Assn. Tournament of Champions starting on Monday.
The Sailors, who close out the regular season at Fountain Valley on Thursday, are seeking their fifth straight TOC title.
Newport Harbor is the only team to have scored on the Oilers this season, Boyer said. Jane Layton had a standout game and also helped lead the Sailors to the win, Boyer said.
Playing on the grass at Davidson Field also helped, as opposed to playing on the artificial turf at Huntington Beach, where the Sailors lost, 3-1, Oct. 24.
“It was definitely home-field advantage because [the Oilers] are so good on turf,” Boyer said.
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GIRLS’ TENNIS
Pacific Coast League finals
CORONA DEL MAR — Corona del Mar High junior Lauren Thaxter advanced to the singles semifinals with a pair of wins Tuesday at CdM.
Thaxter defeated Julia Lau of Irvine, 8-0, in the first round before defeating Connie Yoo of Beckman, 6-1, 6-1, in the quarterfinals. She plays No. 2-seeded Yuki Asami of University in the semifinals at 3 p.m. Wednesday at CdM.
CDM’s doubles team of Kenzie Purcifull and Riley Gerdau also advanced to Wednesday’s semifinals. They beat a team from Irvine, 8-2, in the first round, before knocking off a team from Woodbridge, 6-2, 6-3, in the quarterfinals.
The CdM players will have to win in the semifinals to qualify for CIF Individuals. The top two singles players and doubles teams from each league qualify.
CdM senior Olivia Dajee defeated Thimanthi Withana of Irvine, 8-1, in the first round before falling to No. 1-seeded Katiana Boyer of University, 6-0, 6-0. Sophomore Shelby Anderson defeated Shreya Kumar of Northwood, 8-7, in the first round before losing to Asami, 6-0, 6-0.
In doubles, Sophia Chen and Siena Sharf defeated a Beckman team, 8-3, in the first round then lost to the No. 2-seeded team from University, 6-1, 6-0.
The CdM doubles teams of Taylor Fogarty and Kimmia Naaseh, as well as Skylar Dapp and Shea O Hill, are both in the back draw semifinals.
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GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
Corona del Mar def. Irvine
CORONA DEL MAR — Kelsey Humpreys had 24 assists to help lead the Sea Kings to a 25-11, 25-19, 25-15 Pacific Coast league win Tuesday.
Grace Kennedy had 10 kills and Hayley Hodson had seven killls, while Shannon Griffin and Brooke Dunning had four kills each for CdM (21-5, 8-0 in league).
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Sage Hill def. Oxford Academy
CYPRESS — Sophomore outside hitter Kekai Whitford had nine kills and 13 digs to lead the visiting Lightning’s 25-8, 25-12, 25-19 Academy League sweep Tuesday.
Junior middle blocker Juliette Singarella had eight kills, while Sophie Gordon had four kills and two aces for Sage (13-7, 5-3 in league).
The Lightning visit Whitney on Friday.
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Estancia def. Saddleback
SANTA ANA — Charlotte Gaitan had 14 digs to help lead the Eagles to a 25-6, 27-25, 25-8, 25-16 Orange Coast League win Tuesday.
Estancia improved to 6-3 in league.
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BOYS’ WATER POLO
Corona del Mar 16, Irvine 6
CORONA DEL MAR — Matt Sherburne recorded three goals as the Sea Kings moved closer to finishing undefeated in Pacific Coast League play on Tuesday.
Jake Wyatt had two goals and six assists for CdM (16-5, 9-0 in league), ranked No. 6 in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 poll. The Sea Kings close out league at Woodbridge on Thursday at 4:15 p.m.
Ty Hack, Jack Trush, Danny Marshall and Reid Chase each produced two goals apiece for CdM.