Boys’ Lacrosse: Sailors pull off another stunner

What a game!

What a game!

That might be a simple way to describe what took place Wednesday night at Davidson Field, where Newport Harbor High and Marina battled in a wild and crazy boys’ lacrosse game.

But Sailors Coach Mark Todd probably put it best when talking about the way his guys took a much-needed 13-11 victory over the Vikings, who featured former Tars assistant Ryan Abatte as their head coach.

“A perfect storm for disaster,” Todd said before addressing his victorious Sailors in a post-game meeting. “The Santa Anas were blowing and we had kids with bad asthma. It was senior night and it didn’t look like the seniors were focused because of all the pageantry. Marina came out hungry and they wanted to spoil our senior night because we spoiled theirs last year. They gave us one heck of a game.”

And Newport Harbor (7-8, 5-2 in league) received one heck of a game from junior John Mooers, who delivered four goals and two assists to help the Sailors win their fifth straight game.

Newport Harbor needed a win and it really needs another against Edison back at Davidson Friday to have any chance to make the playoffs.

Marina also wanted to spoil that opportunity. The Vikings jumped out to a 2-0 lead and David Arent continually gave the Sailors problems, as he scored five goals.

Marina must’ve known about Newport Harbor’s leading scorer, Kole Escher, as the Vikings did their best to stop him.

Still, Escher ended with a hat trick to give him 46 on the season, just three from tying the school record for most goals in a season.

Chris Buchanan added two goals, Alex Fuller finished with two goals and one assist, Nate Chaness had one goal and one assist and Max Durante had one goal.

Buchanan led the Sailors with nine groundballs and goalie John Jasper recorded eight saves.

The fans at Davidson certainly received a treat, and it wasn’t just because Bob Miller and NHHS superfan Teran Rodriguez were calling the game.

The contest featured back-and-forth action, physical play and great emotion from players on both sides.

There were six ties, and Newport Harbor did not grab its first lead of the game until there were three-tenths of a second remaining in the third quarter, when Mooers scored an incredible goal.

The Sailors went on to outscore Marina, 3-1, in the final seven minutes to earn the big victory in front of a spirited crowd.