Belden, Taylor spark Newport

Rick Devereux

A thunder clap sent the girls racing out of the Newport Harbor High

pool and a strong wind tumbled the Long Beach Millikan canopy the

length of the pool as the start of the Sailors’ CIF Southern Section

Division I quarterfinal game was delayed 30 minutes.

Once the weather calmed, the storm inside the pool began as the

second-seeded Sailors dominated Millikan for a 15-4 victory.

Weather setbacks are not a new adventure for the Tars, who

experienced long delays during a tournament in Florida.

“I hate thunder and lightning,” senior Anne Belden said. “But, we

got to play. That’s the most important thing.”

The Sailors (26-3) scored five goals in the first 3:38 and opened

up an 11-0 lead three minutes into the third quarter until Milliken

got on the scoreboard.

Belden and senior Ashling Taylor each had three goals apiece for

Newport Harbor, who plays No. 3 seeded Montebello Friday at Heritage

Park in Irvine.

“I think we played very well [against Millikan],” Coach Bill

Barnett said. “We had good counterattacks and good defense. We played

a good all-around game.”

The defensive effort was impressive, as the Rams put up four shot

in the first half.

The Sailors tried to keep their muscles loose during the lightning

layover by taking warm showers, but sometimes the delay affects the

muscle between the ears.

CIF Division I

Quarterfinal

Newport Harbor 15,

Millikan 4

Score by Quarters

*--*

Millikan 0 0 2 2 -- 4

Newport 5 4 4 2 -- 15

*--*

Millikan -- Jenkins 2, Absmeier, Odegard. Saves -- Taggart 2.

Newport -- Belden 3, Taylor 3, Wheeler 2, Robertson 2, Manderino

2, Barto, Lucas, Kepner. Saves -- Nelson 4, Layton 7.