Field hockey: Newport closes out season with 17th shutout

COSTA MESA - The Newport Harbor High field hockey team won its 13th

straight Sunset League game and recorded its 17th shutout of the season

with a 2-0 victory over visiting Santa Ana Thursday at Harper Community

Center.

Newport (17-2-1, 13-1 in league), the Sunset League champions, built a

2-0 halftime lead and, as usual, used its defense to maintain the winning

streak. Kelly Duffield scored 9:29 into the game, when she finished off a

pass from Kirsten Chamberlain, who received a tip-pass from Kaley Nix.

Then, with 4:23 left in the first half, Chamberlain smacked one into the

cage on an assist from Nix.

The Sailors’ defense, anchored by goalie Amanda Wittman, received

standout efforts from Danielle Pfaff, Carlin Schneider and Tiffany

Vandersloot to help send Santa Ana to 14-5-3, 8-3-3.

Thursday’s game also marked the return of senior Lauren Birchfield,

who tore her anterior cruciate ligament this summer. The Sailors’ 17th

shutout matches the amount Newport recorded last year, also with a Sunset

League title.

The Sailors return to action in the Sunset League’s Tournament of

Champions Saturday at 9 a.m., hosting Fountain Valley at Harper Community

Center. The finals of the tournament are slated for Thursday at

approximately 4:30 p.m. at Edison High School.

Newport’s junior varsity team (11-0-3, 17-0-3) also closed out its

season with a 2-0 victory over Santa Ana.