McIntosh earns league’s top defensive honor

Newport Harbor High senior field hockey player Courtney McIntosh has been named the Sunset League’s Most Valuable Defensive Player, in voting by league coaches.

McIntosh was joined on the all-league first team by Sailors teammates Sophie Evans, Emmy Mitchell and Nicole Zielinski.

McIntosh, a three-year varsity player, was an integral piece on defense and in the midfield for Coach Amanda Boyer’s Sailors. She helped Newport Harbor (20-4-2) finish second in the Sunset League south division before going on to win its fourth straight Los Angeles Field Hockey Assn. Tournament of Champions title over rival Huntington Beach.

She was named to the TOC all-tournament team along with Jill Messersmith, with Evans as the tournament MVP.

Newport Harbor’s Messersmith, Taury Hlinka and Allie Pantosky earned second-team All-Sunset League status.

Huntington Beach’s Lindsay Walter was named league MVP, with the Oilers’ Kayla Wigney as the league’s Most Valuable Offensive Player. Alexis Coco of Edison earned the Most Valuable Midfielder honors, while Felicia Almeida of Marina was named Most Valuable Goalie.

— From staff reports