Newport Harbor Cruises Past Esperanza

Although Newport Harbor, the top-ranked girls’ water team in Orange County, hasn’t been at full strength this season, the Sailors haven’t appeared to slow down.

Tuesday, eighth-ranked Esperanza hung tough with Newport Harbor for a half, but Kyndra Cox scored four goals and helped the Sailors score four times in a 2 1/2-minute span in the third quarter to pull away for a 6-4 nonleague victory at Newport Harbor.

Newport Harbor won the Villa Park tournament last weekend but has been playing without senior Jenna Barto, a starter. Newport Harbor Coach Bill Barnett said Tuesday that Barto is out for the season with a stomach ailment.

“It really hurts us,” Barnett said. “She was one of our best players at the end of last season. The doctors have done everything they can, but she just cramps up in the abdomen area whenever she’s in the water. She’s done for the year.

“But you just have to go on.”

Newport Harbor (6-1) relied on its tough defense to win the tournament last weekend and the defense helped seal the victory Tuesday, holding Esperanza (6-2) scoreless for the final six minutes.

Esperanza’s leading scorer, Theresa Guidi, scored her only goal 18 seconds into the fourth quarter to trim the lead to 6-3.

Jessica Conner scored on a counterattack to pull Esperanza to within 6-4 with 6 minutes 7 seconds remaining, but the Aztecs misfired on their final four shots.

“Newport Harbor has more big-game experience,” Esperanza Coach Max Miyahara said. “The better teams come out in the second half and out-tough you.

“We know we can play with anyone, we just have to put four quarters together.”

The teams were locked in a defensive struggle for a half, but Cox had two goals and an assist in the third quarter. Goals by Cox, Katherine Gregg and Ali Taylor helped Newport Harbor to a 6-2 lead.