Field Hockey: Edison goalie steps up in tie

Edison High field hockey goalie Drew Vandalia has never been afraid to step out. But it was her ability to step up on Tuesday that helped the Chargers secure a 1-1 Sunset League tie with host Newport Harbor at Huntington Beach High.

The ultra-aggressive Vandalia, who mortified Chargers Coach Rebecca Antongiorgi on one occasion by roaming out near the edge of the 16-yard shooting circle, stopped a penalty shot with 14 seconds left in the 10-minute overtime period to maintain the deadlock.

Vandalia made two kick saves in overtime against speedy Sailors attacker Mckenzie Porteous, and charged off the goal line in the closing seconds to challenge Porteous, who had possession behind defenders inside the seven-yard penalty area.

Porteous tried to veer to her right to get around Vandalia, who collided with and flattened Porteous and was called for a foul that prompted a penalty stroke (a one-one-one opportunity centered between the goal posts against a goalie bound to the goal line seven yards away).

Vandalia, who has now stopped both penalty strokes against her this season —the other also against Newport in the Sailors’ 1-0 win at Edison on Sept. 30 — stood her ground and extended her right foot to block the penalty shot. The save preserved the tie and denied Newport Harbor (14-1-4, 6-1-2 in league) any chance to share the league crown with Huntington Beach.

Edison (8-3-3, 6-2-1), which finishes its regular season on Friday against Huntington Beach, will be the league’s No. 3 playoff representative, behind the Sailors and the Oilers, should Newport Harbor defeat Marina on Thursday.

A Newport loss Thursday and an Edison win Friday would propel Edison into second place.

Playoff pairings are announced Saturday.

This had all the intensity of a playoff contest, as both teams showed skill, focus and desire for 70 minutes.

“Frenzied and intense,” Antongiorgi said of the end-to-end action, during which both teams had quality scoring chances.

Junior forward Megan Blatt opened the scoring for the Chargers in the fifth minute, pushing in a shot from the doorstep after junior midfielder Jayden McKeague whacked a through ball into the circle from just inside the midfield stripe.

The lead was erased when Porteous scored on a penalty corner in the 27th minute. Porteous, who scored nine of her team’s 18 goals to help the Tars win five games and claim the Helix Tournament title on Saturday in San Diego, fielded a pass from Georgia Yokoyama and blasted a shot that caromed upward off an Edison defender’s stick and over Vandalia’s head into the top portion of the cage.

In the seven-on-seven overtime that followed the 11-on-11 regulation format, Porteous spearheaded the Newport offense that severely challenged the Chargers’ defenders.

In addition to Vandalia, senior co-captains Riley Wester and Jordan Marcy defended well throughout.

Antongiorgi also praised the play of Blatt and senior midfielder Corryn Cook.

Newport Harbor Coach Amanda Boyer singled out Porteous, senior defender Katie Hendrix and senior midfielder Jackie Singer, while seniors Mollie Crook and Yokoyama (tri-captains along with Singer) also stood out.

“We played very well, but I’m frustrated that we couldn’t find the back of the cage, especially in the seven-on-seven,” said Boyer, whose team is 12-0-2 since Huntington Beach handed it its only defeat on Sept. 20.

Included in that run is a 1-1 tie on Oct. 6 against the Oilers, who are sharing their home field with the Sailors while Newport Harbor’s stadium is undergoing renovation.

“[Newport Harbor] is a good team and it was an exciting game,” Antongiorgi said. “I’m really pleased with effort of my team against a really good team like that. We played until the end and we put ourselves in position that the game could have gone either way.

“I was really impressed with the composure of my goalie,” Antongiorgi said. “You have to make the offensive player make a decision, rather than retreat into our cage. I’d rather she be aggressive than stand there like a deer in headlights.”

Said Vandalia: “I try to step out when I need to.”