Girls soccer: Newport ready to establish tradition

Steve Virgen

NEWPORT BEACH - For the Newport Harbor High girls soccer team, next

year is here. The future is now.

After the Sailors earned a CIF Southern Section Division II playoff

berth last year and recorded the school’s first two playoff wins ever,

the talk began for next year ... just wait until next year. And the talk

came with good reason because Coach Jason Sorrell knew at least 11 key

players would return.

“With our potential and the players we have, we are better than last

year,” Sorrell said. “They have found out what it takes to make the

playoffs. They have to go out and play hard every game. We did that.”

The Sailors return a strong core of players, including juniors Amy

Burlingham, Kate Younglove and Taryn Flamson and seniors Tory Manchester

and Amy Ross. Burlingham, a U.S. national junior team member, scored 14

goals last year and earned first team All-Sea View League status to go

with her second team All-CIF recognition. Flamson was also awarded with

first team all-league status, while Manchester and Ross return with

second team all-league honors.

“I want the same (from Burlingham) as last year,” Sorrell said. “She

was scoring goals from all over during the season. She just needs to keep

her confidence up and lead by example by the way she plays. And she does

that.”

In addition, Sorrell’s confidence is further strengthened by junior

Tricia Orth and seniors Amber Taylor and Katie Yeager and the anticipated

healthy return of senior Lauren Birchfield.

Birchfield, a first team All-Sea View League performer, tore her right

anterior cruciate ligament in a club soccer game in May, and she’s due to

get clearance to play before the end of next week, or sooner.

“We’re just looking to score some goals this season,” Sorrell said.

“Once we get Lauren back and everything is normal, we’ll be pretty good

all over. The new girls have come in and are real good. The attitude so

far is pretty good. We just need to step up the work ethic a little bit

and we should be OK. We’ve picked up a couple of good freshman players

(Taylor Giacomaro and Erin Hardy).”

Newport’s defense will be anchored by senior goalie Kiissa Taylor and

junior Kara Demille will also serve duty at times.

The continuous improvement of the Sailors should make for great

dramatics in this year’s Back Bay battle against Corona del Mar. Newport

will face the Sea Kings at CdM, Saturday, Jan. 5 at 1 p.m.

NEWPORT HARBOR HIGH GIRLS SOCCER

Katie Yeager Sr.

Kate Younglove Jr.

Tricia Orth Jr.

Taylor Giacomaro Fr.

Andi Sarris Jr.

Erin Hardy Fr.

Kristin Nahin Sr.

Amy Burlingham Jr.

Lauren Birchfield Sr.

Tory Manchester Sr.

Taryn Flamson Jr.

Amber Taylor Sr.

Barbara Julian So.

Jillian Austin So.

Amy Ross Sr.

Kiissa Tyler Sr.

Kara Demille Jr.

Coach: Jason Sorrell