Field hockey: Tars aim for crown

Having just begun preseason practice, the Newport Harbor High field hockey team will understandably need some time to hit its stride. But 10th-year coach Amanda Boyer said a new temporary home field will help the Sailors avoid what had been a recurring challenge of getting up to speed.

With the Newport Harbor football stadium undergoing renovations and field conditions at an alternate natural-grass home site compromised by the drought, Boyer has accepted an offer from Huntington Beach High to hold home games and practices on the Oilers’ synthetic turf field.

“It’s hard to compete with other teams when all but one school we play has turf on its home field,” Boyer said. “We practiced mostly on grass and we have played our home games on grass in our stadium. The ball-handling is just really different [on turf]. You can just move the ball a lot more quickly on turf, so the speed of the game is faster.”

The Sailors were 22-3-3 last season, when they lost a Los Angeles Field Hockey Assn. Tournament of Champions semifinal against Edison in overtime.

It was the third straight third-place finish for the Tars, who won their last TOC crown in 2011 to cap a run of four straight championships.

With seven starters returning, Boyer is optimistic that this team can contend for a TOC title.

Among the returners is 2015 Sunset League Most Valuable Goalkeeper Sarah Sheldon, as well as first-team all-league choice Jackie Singer, who shifts from defense to the midfield, and projected scoring leader Mckenzie Porteous.

Newport Harbor Field Hockey

League: Sunset

Coach: Amanda Boyer (10th season)

Coaching staff: Judy Schaefer, assistant, JV head coach

2015 record: 22-3-3

2015 league record: 7-2-1

2015 Postseason: third place

Returning starters: seven

Returning with honors: Sarah Sheldon (Sunset League Most Valuable Goalkeeper); Jackie Singer (first-team all-league); Mollie Crook and Mckenzie Porteous (second-team all-league); Katie Hendrix (All-TOC)

Coach’s take: “I think we have a strong group of returners, including a lot of key starters. We have a really strong midfield and the girls are really excited and dedicated to being successful. They were getting better with every game last year, so I’m excited to see how they will continue to grow this season.”

One to watch: “Chloe Bagiu was a freshman on varsity last year, so I’m excited to see her return with that experience and a little more confidence,” Boyer said. “She was a defender and we’re moving her up to midfield.”

Schedule

August

30 – at Glendora

September

6 – Harvard Westlake

8 – Westlake (home at Edison High, 4:15 p.m.)

13 – at Bonita

15 – Chaminade

20 – at Huntington Beach*

22 – Fountain Valley*

27 – Westminster*

30 – at Edison*

October

4 – at Marina*

6 – Huntington Beach*

11 – at Fountain Valley*

13 – at Westminster*

14 – Helix tournament, TBA

15 – Helix tournament, TBA

18 – Edison*

20 – Marina*

*denotes league game

Home games at Huntington Beach High, unless noted

Games at 3:15 p.m., unless noted