Third time is no charm

Newport Harbor has its usual trouble against Marina in the Tournament of Champions’ title game.WESTMINSTER -- If the Newport Harbor High girls’ field hockey team had an Achilles heel this season, it was the lack of offensive production -- and Marina High.

Both issues reared their heads Tuesday in the final of the Los Angeles Field Hockey Assn. Tournament of Champions. Marina defeated Newport Harbor for the third time this season, emerging with a 3-1 victory at Westminster High.

It marked the second consecutive Tournament of Champions final loss for the Sailors, who have reached the title game six straight seasons. Newport Harbor lost, 1-0, in last year’s final to Harvard-Westlake.

Not only was it Newport’s third loss of the season to Marina (21-2-1), it marked the third time the team lost to the Vikings in the Tournament of Champions final. Newport lost to Marina in the championship game in 2000 and 2001.

“I kind of feel like we do have their number,” Marina Coach Chris Gray said. “At least in the playoffs.”

Newport Harbor scored two goals in three games against Marina this season.

The Sailors trailed, 2-0, after Marina’s Heather Harvey scored on a backhand shot with 22:13 left in the second half. Newport goalkeeper Jessica Pizarek tried to kick away a loose ball, but the ball got trapped under her leg pads. Harvey dug it loose and found the back of the net.

Three minutes later, Newport netted its only goal of the game. Sienna Palmer sent a crossing pass to Rachel Foster, who fanned on her shot. Danica Kalmbach, standing behind Foster, got good wood on her shot and scored to pull the Sailors to within 2-1.

But before Newport could gain much momentum, Marina’s Natalie Peterson scored less than a minute later to take the wind out of the Sailors’ sails.

“This was about team unity,” Gray said. “Every single player played with confidence, and they got the job done. We have 14 seniors on this team -- it’s a good way for them to go out -- they wanted it.”

First-year Newport Harbor Coach Piper Phillips, a former Sailors player, gave all the credit to Marina.

“They have a lot of strong players and their coach has coached there forever -- since I played,” Phillips said. “It’s hard as a first-year coach to compete with someone like that, who’s more familiar with all of the nuances of strategy.”

Marina defeated Newport, 2-1, and, 1-0, in Sunset League games this season.

Despite the loss, it was another stellar season for the perennial power Sailors (21-6-1), and quite a ride for a first-year coach.

“From the first week of the season to the last game today, it’s been a huge turnaround from where they were,” said Phillips, who is the program’s third coach in three seasons. “Defense was a weak area, and the progress they made is remarkable. This team made it easy for me as a first-year coach.”

Darci Pennington and Ashton Rief led the defensive effort for the Sailors all season long and in Tuesday’s final. Senior Sasha Grumman helped control the midfield for Newport.

Grumman, Rief and Foster were named to the All-Tournament of Champions team for the Sailors.Newport Harbor’s Rachel Foster hits the ball during the CIF championship game against Marina at Westminster High School on Tuesday. 20051109PO1KOB7VNo Caption20051109ipo045knKENT TREPTOW / DAILY PILOT(LA)Newport Harbor goalie Jessica Pizarek, right, saves a shot by Marina’s Natalie Peterson during the Los Angeles Field Hockey Assn. championship game at Westminster High School on Tuesday. 20051109ipo053knKENT TREPTOW / DAILY PILOT(LA)Newport Harbor’s Jackie Taylor, right, battles Marina’s B.B. Flynn during the CIF championship game at Westminster High School on Tuesday.