Sailors anxious for league run

Steve Virgen

As first-year coach of the Newport Harbor High boys soccer team, Ryan

Hernandez made no plans for rebuilding this season. The Sailors’

21-year-old head man believes his team is built to win this season.

Hernandez should know a thing or two about Newport soccer. He

played for the school before graduating in 2000, then became an

assistant for three years before taking the head job this season.

He’s well aware of how close the Sailors came to winning the Sea View

League title last year.

Newport Harbor was one goal away from the league championship, as

it finished the regular season with a 2-2 tie with Sea View League

champion Woodbridge.

“I have a lot of expectations especially because there are not

that many changes from last year,” Hernandez said. “We did so well

last year and we really didn’t lose that much. We have a solid

defense with a lot of speed and height. We should win [the Sea View

League title] this year. I know we can win it and that’s why I think

we should.”

Hernandez remains confident, primarily because he has two

first-team all-league returners in seniors Joel Walker and Matt

Tracy. Senior Chase Kelly, a second-team all-league performer last

year, returns along with a strong senior class that includes team

co-captain Will Guzman, a midfielder, and senior defender Brian

Campos, as well as Skyler Taugher.

Tracy, a sweeper, is the other co-captain for the Sailors.

“He has a lot of fight and he really wants to win,” Hernandez said

of Tracy.

Hernandez has coached Tracy since he was a sophomore and has seen

him mature.

The Sailors’ senior group has improved as a whole and the

experienced players are setting the tone that teamwork is the key to

victory, Hernandez said.

“I coached the frosh/soph team after I graduated,” Hernandez said.

“The year I started the kids who were freshmen are now seniors. Now

they are the big seniors.”

David Manchester, a junior defender who played on the varsity team

the past two seasons, also figures to be a key player for the

Sailors, as will senior midfielder Warren Junowich and senior goalie

Taylor Carver.

Junior Eduardo Garcia, senior Michael Gustafson and senior Detlef

Moeller played on the varsity last year, and they are concentrating

on winning the Sea View League title and then making some noise in

the CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs.

“It’s about time [Newport wins the Sea View League title],”

Hernandez said. “This is definitely the year. I’m sure they’re up for

the challenge for sure. I know they want it.”

Newport enters the Trabuco Hills tournament, beginning Friday,

with a 4-2 record, including wins over district rivals Estancia and

Costa Mesa. The Sailors losses have come to Sunset League schools

Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley, the latter a 4-2 setback

Wednesday.

The Tars open league play Jan. 9 at home against Foothill.