Field hockey: Tars’ Nix, Vasquez earn top honors

Newport Harbor High juniors Kaley Nix and Athena Vasquez, who led

the Sailors’ field hockey team to the Sunset League title and a runner-up

finish in the season-ending Tournament of Champions, have earned top

honors among the coaches’ All-Sunset selections.

Nix, a forward who led the Sailors with 17 goals, is one of two

Offensive Players of the Year.

Vasquez, whose play on the back line and at midfield helped the Tars,

19-3-1, record 18 shutouts, is the Defensive Player of the Year.

Coach Sharon Wolfe’s Sailors are also represented on the first team by

Allison McKenzie, Carlin Schneider, Jillianne Whitfield and Amanda

Wittman.

Kristin Chamberlain, Danielle Pfaff and Tiffany Vandersloot are

second-team selections.

McKenzie, a senior utility player, was a first-team all-league honoree

as a junior.

Wittman, a sophomore goalie, made 83 saves and allowed just nine goals

all season.

Whitfield, a sophomore, sparkled in the midfield, while Schneider was

a defensive standout on the back line.

Pfaff and Vandersloot, both sophomores, as well as Chamberlain, a

junior, should help the Sailors contend for their first Tournament of

Champions crown next fall.

Marina senior Alexis Ramsey is league MVP, while Santiago senior

Annabel Valdez shares Offensive Player of the Year honors with Nix.

Marina senior Lisette Kocka is the Goalie of the Year.