Chargers hand Tars first loss

Rick Devereux

Winning is always the desired goal, but early in a season, sometimes

other factors become more important.

Avoiding injuries became more important for the Newport Harbor

High girls soccer team than beating visiting El Toro Monday in a

nonleague game at Harper Community Center.

Senior sweeper Erin Hardy sat out the 2-0 loss to the Chargers

after she pulled a hamstring against Fountain Valley Thursday.

“She could have played today, but why risk further injury this

early in the season?” Coach Phil D’Agostino said. “We’ll be at full

force next week [against University Dec. 14].”

Senior captain Tayler Giacamoro switched from her regular right

fullback spot to sweeper in Hardy’s absence and was the most active

player for the Sailors.

Giacamoro was solid on defense and pressed the ball forward on

offense. She routinely stole the ball and led the counterattack for

Newport (2-1).

“She’s our anchor on defense,” D’Agostino said.

The defense played well in the first half, stopping potential El

Toro runs and intercepting pass attempts.

The offense fed off the defense, breaking forward for

counterattacks and switching the ball from sideline to sideline to

spread the Chargers defense.

“We had a really good first half,” D’Agostino said.

Junior forward Krystal Wright sent a ball that El Toro goaltender

Harmony Lofland had to punch away from the goal.

Moments later, Emily Ohlhaver, a freshman midfielder, headed a

ball toward the goal off a Giacomaro free kick. Lofland was in

position to make the save.

Hopes of finishing the game without injuries ended before the

first half came to a close.

Junior defenseman Heather Stevenson twisted her ankle a few

minutes before intermission. Senior Jessica Gavilan took her place

and played well, but El Toro soon went on the offensive.

“An injury to a defenseman throws the chemistry off for the team,”

D’Agostino said. “[El Toro] was getting to the ball first [in the

second half].”

Even without winning first possession, the Sailors were still able

to create scoring opportunities.

Junior Amy Klippert dropped a perfect pass to a streaking Wright,

who fired a shot stopped by a diving El Toro goalkeeper.

But, for the most part, it was the Chargers (1-0-1) applying

pressure in the second half.

Senior midfielder Sher Smith gained possession of the ball just

outside of the 18-yard box and lofted a shot that rolled off the

goalkeeper’s fingertips and into the back of the net for an El Toro

goal eight minutes into the second half.

Newport tried to push the ball up field, but the Chargers’ defense

continually intercepted or stopped dribbles.

“Our defense is strong,” El Toro Coach Annie Jacobs said. “We’re

still trying to prepare for the rest of the season. I think we played

at about 65% of what we’re capable of playing.”

The Tars almost tied the match when Klippert’s header hit the

goalpost.

There were other close calls for Newport.

Ohlhaver had a shot sail high and Wright chipped a shot from the

edge of the penalty area that was caught by the goalkeeper.

Giacomaro’s free kick passed through the 18-yard box untouched and

Hall’s crossing pass to Wright ended with a shot wide of the goal.

The Chargers took a commanding 2-0 lead in the 15th minute of the

second half when senior forward Rachel Varela headed the ball into

the net from the left side. Varela’s goal was assisted by Alli

Armando, a sophomore midfielder.

The Sailors put together one final offensive push when Wright sent

a centering pass to Hall. Hall’s pass to a streaking Klippert was

just out of reach and controlled by the El Toro goalkeeper.

“I’m proud of how we played,” D’Agostino said. “We had a couple of

unlucky balls that went in, but I give [El Toro] credit for

converting on their scoring opportunities.”

With the season only three games old, the Sailors are still

learning how to play together.

“We have a lot of girls coming in from different club teams, so

they are still gelling together as a team,” D’Agostino said. “We need

to get some type of fluidity.”

The coach is not worried about the season’s first loss.

“If we can stay healthy, we should be a strong team,” D’Agostino

said. “If we can get our strikers and midfielders to work together a

little more, we will be hard to beat.”

D’Agostino had high praise for the defense and especially

sophomore goaltender Mary Giberson.

“Our defense is really strong,” he said. “[Giberson] is a great

goalie. She is always making plays for us.”